The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.17
Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.17
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3.17.1
When Sher Shah heard that the chiefs of the country of Mandu had not assisted Kutb Khan, and that Kutb Khan was slain, he was extremely grieved and enraged; nevertheless he did not openly manifest this by his conduct, but kept his grudge against the chiefs of Mandu concealed in his own bosom. The Mughals gained excessive confidence from this victory, and large forces having come also from their own country, the Emperor Humayun arrayed his army and came to Kanauj (Zi-l ka'da, 946 A.H., April, 1540 A.D.). Sher Shah also fortified himself on the opposite side of the river Ganges. At this conjuncture he received intelligence that Khawas Khan had slain Maharta. There was great rejoicing in the Afghan army, and Sher Shah wrote to Khawas, saying: "Come with all speed to me; for I and your other friends are awaiting your coming before we engage the enemy; we are looking anxiously in your direction." And when he heard of the near approach of Khawas Khan, he sent a herald to the Emperor Humayun, saying, "I have for some time entrenched myself here. The Emperor has the power to choose. If he will cross the river he may fight with me on this side;
3.17.2
or, if he prefer it, I will cross the river, and fight with the Emperor on that side." When the herald came to the Emperor, and reported what Sher Shah had said, the Emperor, in utter contempt of Sher Shah, replied: "Say to Sher Khan that if he will retreat some kos from the waterside, I will cross the river Ganges and give him battle." The herald returned and told Sher Shah what the Emperor had said. Sher Shah retreated several kos from the river bank. The Emperor Humayun, having prepared a bridge, crossed the river Ganges. Hamid Khan Kakar, one of Sher Shah's nobles, said, "You ought to attack the Mughal army before they have all crossed the river." Sher Shah replied: "I have never before had any advantages, and have been compelled to use stratagems in warfare. Now by the favour of the all-powerful, my force is not inferior to the Emperor's. I will not now, notwithstanding my advantages, break my promise in the face of day. With my army arrayed in the open field, I will give battle without fraud or stratagem. God's will, whatever it may be, will be manifested." When Sher Shah understood that the whole force of the Emperor was across the river, he returned towards it, and carefully throwing up, according to his custom, an earthwork embankment opposite the Emperor's army, encamped close by it. After some days Khawas Khan also came ;
3.17.3
on the very day he arrived, Sher Shah marched in fighting order, and captured all the supplies which were coming to the Emperor's army, and took 300 camels, and a large convoy of bullocks. On the 10th Muharram, 947 H., both armies drew out their forces. Sher Shah thus arranged his army. In the centre was Sher Shah himself, with Haibat Khan Niazi, who bore the title of 'Azam Humayun, Masnad 'Ali 'Isa Khan Sarwani, Kutb Khan Lodi, Haji Khan Jaloi, Buland Khan, Sarmast Khan, Saif Khan Sarwani, Bijli Khan, and others. On the right were Jalal Khan, son of Sher Shah, who after Sher Shah's death succeeded him on the throne, and was entitled Islam Shah, Taj Khan, Sulaiman Khan Kirani, Jalal Khan Jaloi, and others. On the left, 'Adil Khan, son of Sher Shah, Kutb Khan, Rai Husain Jalwani, and others. When Sher Shah had drawn up his army in this order, he said to the Afghans : " I have used my best exertions to collect you together, I have done my best in training you, and have kept you in anticipation of such a day as this. This is the day of trial ; whoever of you shows himself to excel in valour on the field of battle, him will I promote above his fellows." * * * The Afghans replied : " The mighty king has much protected and favoured us. This is the time for us to serve him and show our devotion." Sher Shah ordered each chief to return to his own followers and to remain with them ; and he himself went through the army and set it in proper array.
3.17.4
The Emperor's forces were broken by Khawas Khan's division, but Sher Shah's right, under his son Jalal Khan, was defeated ; four of the chiefs, however, kept their ground, such as Jalal Khan himself, Mian Aiyub Kalkapur Sarwani, and Ghazi Mujli. When Sher Shah saw that his right was broken, he wished to go to its assistance; but Kutb Khan Lodi said: "My lord, do not quit your own post, lest men should think the centre also is broken. Go on into the midst of the enemy." As Sher Shah's division proceeded straight on, they encountered the Mughal force which had routed Sher Shah's right; they defeated and drove it on the Emperor's centre division. Sher Shah having driven away the Mughal force in front of his son Jalal Khan; and his left, in which was his other son 'Adil Khan and Kutb Khan Banet, having repulsed the troops opposed to them, fell on the Mughal centre. Sher Shah's right, which had been defeated, rallied at the same time, and thus the Afghan army completely surrounded the Mughal force. Sher Shah's sons and other Afghan chiefs performed many gallant acts, especially Haibat Khan Niazi and Khawas Khan, who drove back the Mughals with the stroke of the watered sabre and the point of the life-melting spear. The Emperor Humayun himself remained firm like a mountain in his position on the battle-field, and displayed such valour and gallantry as is beyond all description. * * *
3.17.5
When the Emperor saw supernatural beings fighting against him, he acknowledged the work of God, abandoned the battle to these unearthly warriors, and turned the bridle of his purpose towards his capital of Agra. He received no wound himself, and escaped safe and sound out of that bloodthirsty whirlpool. The greater part of his army was driven into the river Ganges. * * * Sher Shah being at his ease regarding the Mughals, wrote to Shuja'at Khan, whom he had left as faujdar, in the country of Bihar and Rohtas, to besiege the fort of Gwalior, and he told the bearer of the farman : "The son of Shuja'at Khan, by name Mahmud Khan, has been slain; do not tell him before he has quitted Rohtas, lest on hearing of the death of his son he delays and puts off his coming." As soon as he received the farman, Shuja'at Khan went and besieged Gwalior. From Kanauj Sher Shah despatched Barmazid Gur with a large force in advance, but directed him not to hazard an engagement with the Emperor Humayun, and he also sent another force under Nasir Khan towards Sambhal. Having speedily settled the country about Kanauj, he betook himself in the direction of Agra.
3.17.6
The Emperor Humayun, on reaching Agra, told Amir Saiyid Amiru-d din, that the Afghans had not defeated his army, but that he had seen supernatural beings fighting his soldiers, and turning back their horses. When he arrived at Sirhind, he told the same story to Muhibu-d din Sirhindi. When Sher Shah approached Agra, the Emperor, unable to remain there, fled towards Lahore. Sher Shah was greatly displeased at this, and reproached Barmazid very much, and on his arrival at Agra remained there for some days himself, but sent Khawas Khan and Barmazid Gur in the direction of Lahore, with a large Afghan force, to pursue the Emperor. On arriving at Dehli, the principal men and inhabitants of the city of Sambhal came and complained that Nasir Khan had oppressed and tyrannized over them in various ways. Sher Shah said to Kutb Khan, "We must select some person endowed both with valour and justice whom to send to Sambhal, for in that sarkar are many lawless and rebellious persons, and the person selected should be able to keep them under." Kutb Khan replied, "That for these qualities there was no Afghan like to 'Isa Khan Kalkapur." Sher Khan replied, "Right, it shall be so. You yourself go to Masnad 'Ali 'Isa Khan, and tell him, if he consents, I will appoint him." Kutb Khan went to 'Isa Khan, who readily assented. * * *
3.17.7
In addition to sarkar Sambhal, Sher Shah gave him the parganas of Kant and Gola for his family, and ordered him to maintain five thousand horse, and placed also Nasir Khan under him. When Sher Shah dismissed 'Isa Khan to go to sarkar Sambhal, he said, "I am now at my ease regarding the whole country from Dehli to Lucknow." Masnad 'Ali, on his arrival at Sambhal, found Nasir Khan had seized Bairam Beg, the keeper of the seals to the Emperor, who afterwards in the time of the Emperor Akbar received the title of Khan-khanan. The reason of Bairam Beg being in Sambhal was as follows. When the army of the Emperor Humayun was dispersed, Bairam Beg went to Sambhal, having formed an intimate friendship with Mian 'Abdu-l Wahhab, son of Mian 'Azizu-lla Danishmand, one of the chief men of the city of Sambhal. 'Abdu-l Wahhab, from fear of Nasir Khan, dared not keep him in the city, but made him over to the Raja of Lukhnor, by name Mitr Sen. The Raja kept him for some time in the northern part of his country, where there is much jungle. Nasir Khan was informed that Bairam Beg was with Mitr Sen, so he wrote to the Raja that he must bring Bairam Beg to him. The Raja, from fear and dread of Sher Shah, surrendered him to Nasir Khan, who was desirous of putting him to death.
3.17.8
An old friendship had subsisted between 'Abdu-l Wahhab and 'Isa Khan from the time of Sultan Sikandar, so he went to 'Isa Khan, and told him he ought to save Bairam Beg from the hands of the cruel Nasir Khan, who was desirous of putting him to death, 'Isa Khan accordingly having rescued Bairam Beg from Nasir Khan, brought him into his own house, and kept him there for some time, and gave him an allowance for his support; and he took Raja Mitr Sen's security that whenever he ('Isa Khan) should go to Sher Shah, thither Bairam Beg should accompany him.