The History of Shāhjahān (ʿInāyat Khān) 32.7

32.7

That ward of divine providence affirmed in reply, that Kutbu-l Mulk must pay down a kror of rupees in cash, jewelry, elephants, etc., and she having consented to obey this mandate, returned to the fortress for the purpose of collecting the above sum. As a vast number of Kutbu-l Mulk's partisans, under the command of his kotwal, who had no intimation as yet of the armistice, had collected together about two kos from the fortress with hostile intentions, the Prince despatched several nobles and mansabdars, with 200 mounted musketeers, and 600 cavalry out of Shayista Khan's retainers, amounting altogether to 6,000 horse, and a host of matchlockmen, to coerce them. The royal troops repaired with the utmost celerity to the menaced point, and encamped that day close to the enemy's position. On the succeeding one, the miscreants sent off their heavy baggage and property to a distance, and having formed up in line themselves, stood prepared for action. Although the royalists several times drove them off and dispersed them, yet the shameless wretches kept constantly rallying and renewing their assaults, in which they suffered numerous casualties, until night supervened; when the ill-fated villains, being incapable of further resistance, took to a precipitate flight. A few out of the victorious army were also killed and wounded; and the ever-successful troops, after spending the night on the ground where the enemy's tents had stood, returned in triumph on the morrow.