Such was the respect for the army which this produced amongst the people of Hind, that thenceforth no one ventured either to rebel or disobey. After this His Majesty passed two months in hunting and other amusements in the neighbourhood of Dehlí. He then turned his face towards Ágra, and sent Prince Muhammad Humáyún, with a large force, into the súba of Sambhal, and declared him his successor. The following was the cause of his selection. One evening the King was in his cups, and summoned Muhammad Humáyún. When that offspring of the royal tree came into the presence, His Majesty, overpowered by the wine, had fallen asleep on his pillow. The Sháhzáda remained there standing, motionless, with his hands joined. When the King awoke from sleep at midnight, he beheld him standing, and said, “When did you come?” He replied, “When I received your commands.” The King then remembered having sent for him, and was much gratified, and said, “If God should grant you the throne and crown, do not put your brothers to death, but look sharply after them.” The Sháhzáda bowed down to the ground and acquiesced in all that His Majesty said, so that, notwithstanding that Mírzá 'Askárí and Mírzá Hindál treated him a hundred times with disrespect, and even went to war with him, he, nevertheless, when he had vanquished them, ceased to think of their hostile proceedings. Whenever they came before him, he treated them with the greatest affection, and never reminded them of the rancour they displayed towards him. To be brief, Mírzá Humáyún was sent with a large army into the súba of Sambhal.
Two or three months after this event, it became evident that His Majesty's health failed him. He was carried to his garden on the bank of the river, and Amír (Khalífá) Nizámu-d dín prescribed for him, and also managed the business of the State. When the King's sickness increased day by day, and he was convinced that there was now no hope of life, he determined to provide the empire with a ruler, and prevent it from falling into a stranger's hands; so he confirmed his previous election. His illness at length became so severe at Ágra, that, in the year 937 H., he departed, by the decree of the Almighty, from this earth to heaven, and forsook this thorny world of trouble for the rose-garden of paradise.
* After three days had been devoted to mourning the death of Islám Sháh, on the fourth, his eldest son, Fíroz Sháh, was placed upon the throne, and the chiefs and nobles, in compliance with the will of the deceased monarch, came forward and professed allegiance. They* distributed a donative of two months' pay amongst the soldiers, and issued their orders to the governors of the súbas. They elected Táj Khán Kirání to the wizárat, and Kutb Khán Níází, equally skilful with his pen and sword, was nominated bakhshí.
As Fíroz Khán was but young, being only twelve years old, and had no experience in matters of government, Táj Khán issued whatever orders he chose to the nobles, but he was wellaffected to the interests of the state and of his pageant master. Nevertheless, some disaffected nobles did not approve of this arrangement, and after consulting together, represented to Bíbí Báí, the mother of Fíroz Khán, that Táj Khán was a seditious intriguing person, and though he had been raised to high power by Islám Sháh, and was admitted to his intimate friendship, yet that monarch did not centre all power in him. You have now constituted him absolute minister, and he, already contemplating the acquisition of supreme power, has summoned his brethren, and intends to remove this child from the throne and occupy it himself.” She inquired of them what she ought to do. They replied, “Send him to the súba of Málwá, to supply the place of Shujá' Khán.” After giving the matter a little reflection, Bíbí Báí sent him to Málwá, though he was the prop of her son's empire, and all the other nobles quailed before his presence, and Islám Sháh on his death-bed had expressly consigned the boy to his care.
About a month after Táj Khán's departure, Mamrez Khán* her brother, son of Míán Nizám, brother of Sher Sháh (who had lived at Bayána, feigning eccentricity and madness, in order to escape death or blinding under the late reign), thought this a good opportunity of offering his congratulations to his nephew, and, under that pretence, of making away with him and seizing the crown for himself. With this view, he entered into a secret correspondence with some of the nobles whom he brought over to his interests. So after two months,* he entered Gwálior with a large army, and, all covered with dust as he was, went direct into the presence of Fíroz Khán, with the intention of seizing and expelling him. His sister, astonished at seeing him under an aspect different from that under which she had ever beheld him, stood between him and her son, and exclaimed, “Mamrez Khán, what are you dreaming of? Have you no fear of God before your eyes, that you seek to extinguish my lamp by the blast of violence, and seat me in the dust of oppression? You also have children. Did I not save you from the hands of Islám Sháh, and is this the reward I am to receive?”
But all her cries and remonstrances were of no avail, for the wretch severed the child's head from his body, and thus accumulated curses upon himself for ever. After killing Fíroz Khán, he came out again from the palace, and, with the consent of two or three of the devilish nobles who were with him,* seated himself on the throne. Then were all astonished and perturbed, and a tumult arose in the city.
* Seven days after the slaughter of Fíroz Khán, Mamrez Khán came to the throne. Before he took possession of it, he caused tents of damask and brocade to be erected in the bázár; after which, be seated himself on the throne and assumed the title of 'Ádil Sháh.* He opened the treasures of Islám Sháh and Sher Sháh, and scattered them with an unsparing hand amongst the people, so that they thought little of the murder of Fíroz Khán.* As there was no member of Sher Sháh's family to succeed to the crown, the nobles sided with him, and were honoured with titles and dignities. When, after two months, he found that every one was well inclined towards him, he turned his face towards Chunár, where the treasures of Sher Sháh were. After conciliating the Kanjúrs, he came to Gwálior, and thence led an army himself against Salím Súr, who had rebelled on the ground of the murder of Fíroz Khán. When he came into that neighbourhood, Salím Khán, finding himself unable to cope with him, fled to the hill country, and was pursued by a large army sent after him by 'Ádil Sháh.