New History of the Marathas v1.c13.52

v1.c13.52

Bahadur Khan found himself entirely thwarted on every side in dealing with Shivaji, and gladly entered into negotiations for the peace which Shivaji had been offering for some time. Shivaji agreed to restore 17 forts to the Emperor and allow his own son to be entertained as a six-thousand *mansab*- dar in the Mughal army. The terms were reported to the Emperor, who sent his sanction. But by the time the negotiations came to be concluded, Shivaji assumed a different tone, and dismissed the Mughal ambassadors who had arrived for arranging the terms. The affair fell through with the result that Bahadur Khan was thoroughly lowered in the Emperor's estimation. "Bahadur Khan was like a petted child" said Shivaji. "He received a large bribe secretly from Shivaji, under the cloak of a tribute for his master and concluded a formal peace with the Marathas." (*Jedhe chronology.*)