Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 224.3

224.3

The astonished Mahmood disavowed any such motive, saying, that he had never broken the oath which he had sworn to his father, the illustrious Sooltan Hooshung, to support his authority. Mahmood Khan, however, after he left the seraglio, resolved on the death of the King, which he conceived, having once been suspected of treachery, was now the only means of securing his own life. He in consequence bribed one of the King’s private servants to administer poison to him in his wine, from the effects of which he died. The officers about the King’s person no sooner ascertained the fact, than they brought forth the Prince Musaood, one of the late king’s sons, a boy thirteen years of age, from the seraglio, in order to place him on the throne. One of the officers (Mullik Bayezeed Sheikha) going to Mahmood Khan, and supposing him to be ignorant of the King’s death, said that his Majesty wanted to see him, as he wished to send an envoy immediately to Guzerat. Mahmood Khan replied, that having relinquished his office of minister, he intended henceforth to become a sweeper at the tomb of his beloved master Sooltan Hooshung; and that under these circumstances it might be as well that the nobles should come to his house, and make arrangements for the future administration of affairs, as the King appeared to have abandoned himself to wine and women.