The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.16
Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.16
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3.16.1
Having read the fatiha, and drawn up his forces in order of battle, Sher Shah with all haste marched towards the Emperor's camp. When the Afghans were close at hand, news was brought to the Emperor that Sher Khan was coming with all speed to battle with him. The Emperor ordered out his army to resist the attack, saying that after a short delay, and having performed his ablutions, he also would follow. The Emperor was a lion (in valour), and in the excess of his gallantry and daring. * * So from the pride of youth, and confidence in the multitude of his forces and followers, who had no equals for intrepidity and gallantry, he despised the forces of Sher Shah, who were all Afghans, and did not even inspect his forces nor pay regard to what is necessary in an engagement; nor did he take into consideration the disorganization which the climate of Bengal had produced in his army. Sher Khan knew all the devices and stratagems of war, and knew how to commence and conclude an engagement, and had experienced both prosperity and misfortune. The army of the Mughals had not extricated themselves from their camp, before the Afghan army were already upon them, and coming boldly on, attacked the army of the Emperor without hesitation. In the twinkling of an eye they routed the Mughal forces. Humayun had not completed his ablutions when the intelligence reached him that the Mughals were utterly scattered, so that to rally them was impossible.
3.16.2
The confusion in the army was so great that he had no time to remove his family, but fled in the direction of Agra, with the intention of collecting all his forces at that place, and returning again from thence to destroy his enemy. Masnad 'Ali Haibat Khan told me 'Abbas Khan, the author of this book, that he was at Sher Khan's side when the Emperor Humayun's queen, with other noble ladies and a crowd of women, came out from behind the parda. As soon as Sher Khan's eye fell upon them, he alighted off his horse, and showed them every respect and consoled them. He then performed a special ablution, and returned twofold thanks to the Lord of Eternity, and raising up his hands in prayer with all humility and with tears, said * * * After this he sent the heralds to proclaim throughout the army, that no person should make captives of or keep a Mughal woman, child, or female slave in his tent one night, but should bring them all to the queen's encampment, and the strictness of his command carried such authority among the Afghans that no person had any power to resist it; and the heralds before night brought all the wives and families of the Mughals to the queen's encampment and assigned rations to each person. Sher Khan some days afterwards sent the queen to Rohtas under charge of Husain Khan Nirak, and providing the families of the other Mughals with carriages and their necessary expenses, sent them on towards Agra.
3.16.3
Sher Khan, who had assumed the title of "Hazrat 'Ali," since the star of victory had risen in the horizon of his good fortune, ordered his munshis to write letters descriptive of his victory to all parts of the country which were in his possession. Masnad 'Ali 'Isa Khan, son of 'Umar Khan, whose title was "Khan-i 'azam," and who during the time Sultan Bahlol, after the death of Tatar Khan Yusuf-khail, held Lahore in jagir, said to Sher Khan, "You should write the letters describing your victory in the style of farmans." Sher Khan observed: "You, who formerly were nobles of Sultans Bahlol and Sikandar, have, for the cause of the Afghans, done me the honour of joining yourselves to me. It does not become me to send farmans to you, and to seat myself on the throne while you stand around me. The King of Hindustan has escaped alive, and still holds most of the country in his possession." 'Isa Khan explained that he had a great desire to seat Sher Khan upon the throne, and said, "Sultan Sikandar and his descendants, who, out of regard to their clansmen, would not ascend the throne, acted in violation of the custom of kings. It behoves him whom God Almighty brings to empire, and elevates and exalts above the rest of mankind, to observe the rules of etiquette of former princes." * * * After this, 'Azam Humáyún Sarwání, said, "The Mughals have been kings for two descents; they despise the Afgháns, and consider them as not their own equals in the day of battle;
3.16.4
yet by the excellence of your wisdom and your conquering fortune, the Afghans have overthrown them." * * * Míán Babín Lodi and the other Afgháns with one consent cried: "There are none like Masnad 'álí Kalkapúr Sarwání and 'Azam Humáyún Sarwání in the army of the Afghans; what they have said is most right; it is not good to delay." Sher Khán was much delighted, and said, "The kingly name is a very exalted thing, and is not devoid of trouble; but since the noble minds of my friends have decided to make me king, I agree." He ordered the astrologers to fix an auspicious moment for his ascent to the throne. When they had consulted the calendar, they came with great delight and said, "An auspicious moment, by the good fortune of your birth hour, has now come. If you at this moment seat yourself upon the throne, defeat and rout will never show their face in your victorious army." He seated himself on the throne, unfolded the umbrella over his head, and assumed the name of Sher Sháh, and struck coin and caused the khutba to be read in his own name; and he took also the additional title of "Sháh 'Álam." He said to 'Ísá Khán, "You are the son of Shaikh Malahí, and have induced me to strike coin and have the khutba read in my own name; write one letter descriptive of the victory with your own hand, the munshís will write the rest." So 'Ísá Khán wrote one copy with his own hand, and the munshís wrote the rest. For seven days drums were beaten in token of rejoicing;
3.16.5
and the young men of the Afghan army came in crowds from every tribe and danced, as is the custom of the Afghans. * * *
3.16.6
Sher Khán himself pursued the Emperor Humáyún, and got possession of the whole country as far as Kalpi and Kanauj. He again sent Khawas Khan against Maharta Cheruh, to utterly destroy him. Jahangir Kuli Beg, with 6000 cavalry, was in Bengal; him he ordered to be put to death, and the chiefs of Hind who were with the Emperor Humayun he let go free; but Shaikh Khalil he kept, and made him one of his own friends and counsellors. He sent 'Isa Khan towards Gujarat and Mandu, and to the chiefs of those parts he wrote, saying, "I am about to send a son of mine into your neighbourhood. When the Emperor Humayun moves towards Kanauj, do you accompany my son, and seize and lay waste the country about Agra and Dehli. At that time a certain man, by name Mallu Khan, had made himself king in Mandu, Sarangpur, and Ujjain, and had assumed the name of Kadir Shah; and in Raisin and Chanderi, Bhaiyá Puran Mall ruled as deputy of the infant Raja Partab, son of Bhupat Shah, the son of Salahu-d din. In Sewas, Sikandar Khan Miana held sway; and Mahesar was Raja of Bhopal. These rulers of Malwa wrote in reply, that when Sher Shah's son came to those parts, they would not fail to assist and serve him. Mallu Khan put his seal at the head of the letter which he sent, and when the letter arrived, Sher Shah tore up the letter and put the seal in his turban (by way of showing respect ironically). When 'Isa Khan went to Gujarat, Sultan Mahmud was a minor;
3.16.7
but his minister Darya Khan wrote that the king was a minor, the chiefs at enmity among themselves, and that the Khan-khanan Yusuf-khail had taken away with him all the army of Mandu and Gujarat. 'Isa Khan observed to Sher Shah that "wherever misfortunes have befallen the Afghans from the Mughals, it has been through this man. The Khan-khanan Yusuf-khail brought the Emperor Babar into India from Kabul; and if the Emperor Humayun had acted according to what the Khan-khanan advised, he would not have repented it, and would have utterly destroyed you; but your good fortune prevailed, so that the Emperor did not act upon his advice. He must be put to death, for it is not right to allow him to live, even though he be a prisoner (at Mungir)." Sher Shah said, "Every Afghan whom I have consulted has said, 'He is an Afghan of consideration, and it is not advisable to kill him.' But my opinion has been that which 'Isa Khan has expressed." So he gave orders that the Khan-khanan, who had been kept in confinement since his capture at Mungir, and who had received a daily allowance of half a sir of unground barley, should be put to death; so he was slain. News arrived that the Emperor Humayun purposed marching towards Kanauj. Sher Khan despatched his son, by name Kutb Khan, to Mandu, in order that he might, in concert with the chiefs of those parts, alarm and ravage the country about Agra and Dehli.
3.16.8
When the Emperor Humayun heard that Sher Shah had sent his son towards Chanderi, that he might raise disturbances in those parts, he sent both his brothers, Mirza Hindal and Mirza 'Askari, with other nobles, in that direction. When the Malwa chiefs heard that two brothers of the Emperor were coming to oppose Kutb Khan, they gave him no assistance. Kutb Khan went from Chanderi to the city of Chondha, and engaging the Mughals at Chondha, was slain. Mirza Hindal and Mirza 'Askari having gained this victory, returned to the Emperor.