The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c28.49

v3.c28.49

The absence of Yūsuf ‘Ādil Khān with the field force encouraged Malik Hasan, Zarīf-ul-Mulk, and Miftāh the African, the leaders of the Deccani party, to prosecute their designs against Mahmūd Gāvān. They induced the keeper of his seals, an African, to affix his private seal to a blank paper, on which they wrote, above the seal, a letter to the raja of Orissa, informing him that the people of the Deccan were weary of the tyranny and perpetual drunkenness of their king and urging him to invade the country. The paper was read to the king when he was drunk, and he at once sent for Mahmūd Gāvān, who insisted on obeying the summons, notwithstanding the protests of his friends, who warned him that mischief was brewing. The king made no inquiries and did not even require the production of the messenger with whom the letter was said to have been found, but when Mahmūd appeared roughly demanded what was the punishment due to a traitor. ‘Death by the sword,’ replied the minister, confident in his innocence. The king then showed him the letter, and, having read it, he exclaimed, ‘By God, this is a manifest forgery! The seal is mine, but the writing is none of mine, and I know nothing of the matter.’ The king, disregarding his protestations of innocence, rose to leave the hall and, as he did so, ordered an African named Jauhar to put him to death. The minister knelt down and recited the short symbol of his faith, and cried, as the sword fell, ‘Praise be to God for the blessing of martyrdom!’