ʿIbrat-namah 5.1.2

5.1.2

At this juncture a message was brought to Ghulam Kadir from the Malika Zamaniya (the queen dowager), offering to give him ten lacs of rupees, on condition of Shah 'Alam being deposed, of Prince Bedar Bakht, son of the late Emperor Ahmad Shah, being raised to the throne, and the fort and city being placed in his possession. Ghulam Kadir agreed to this, and confirmed the plan by his word and covenant, expressing his devotion to the house of Babar. On the 26th Shawwal, 1202 A.H. (31st July, 1788 A.D.), he went to the palace, attended by five hundred men, to demand money for the soldiers, and to express his fears of the Emperor. On the Emperor inquiring what he meant, he replied that his enemies and detractors had raised suspicions against him in the Emperor's mind, and to guard against this he required that the charge of the palace should be placed in the hands of his own people, so that he might come and state freely what he had to represent. The Emperor replied that he seemed destined to be the ruin of the royal house, and that his name would stand infamous on the page of history. Nazir Mansur 'Ali Khan observed that Isma'il Khan was present with a statement and agreement, and that (for confirming it by oath) he had also brought the Holy Kuran. He was called forward, the compact was confirmed upon the Holy Kuran, under the signatures of himself and Ghulam Kadir. The Emperor said, "I place myself under the protection of the Kuran, and submit to your wishes."