Halat-i Asad Beg 8.4

8.4

We must all agree to place Sultan Khusru upon the throne.” When this was said, Saiyid Khan, who was one of the great nobles, and connected with the royal house, and descended from an ancient and illustrious Mughal family, cried out, “Of what do you speak, that in the existence of a Prince like Salim Shah, we should place his son upon the throne! This is contrary to the laws and customs of the Chaghatai Tatars, and shall never be.” He and Malik Khair, who was also a great chief and well skilled in business, with others of their opinion, rose and left the assembly. The Khan-i ’Azam, who was at the bottom of all these evil designs, concealed his rage, and could say nothing. The assembly broke up, and each went his own way. Raja Ram Das Kachhwaha, with all his followers, immediately went to guard the treasury, and Murtaza Khan left the fort, and retiring to his own residence, took steps to assemble the Saiyids of Barah and his own followers. Meanwhile Mirza Sharif and Mu’tamad Khan came and asked him what he intended to do. Knowing them to be his friends, he said, “I intend to go to the Prince.” Mu’tamad Khan expressed his readiness to do the same, and Murtaza Khan bade him go first to the Prince, and say that he would be there immediately with his followers. So he went to His Royal Highness. As soon as the Prince, following the advice of Mir Zia, had retired to his own palace, all the foolish people round him began to alarm him, saying, “Why does Your Highness sit careless here?