New History of the Marathas v1.c6.51

v1.c6.51

But all this apparent victory was a hollow show adroitly got up by Malik Ambar. He immediately started his former aggression, this time with greater vigour than ever before. He first enlisted the support of both the Adil Shah and the Kutb Shah, explaining to them how it was essential in their own interest to form a confederacy against the common danger. They made vast preparations for a concerted plan to drive the Mughal forces back beyond the Narmada. In a short time they harassed the Mughal Governor Khan-Khanan at Burhanpur so severely that he sent piteous appeals to the Emperor for further provisions and help. Malik Ambar's advanced parties even crossed the Narmada and entered Malwa. An interval of nearly three years since Shah Jahan's achievement had wrought important changes in Jahangir's fortunes. Excesses had shattered his health. Serious plots were started at his court for seizing the imperial power. There was open jealousy on this account between Nur Jahan and Shah Jahan. The Emperor lost all his former vigour and nerve and became unfit to control his affairs. His only answer to Khan-Khanan’s piteous appeals was to once more request Shah Jahan to go to the Deccan and put down Malik Ambar’s rebellion.⁶