Having read the fátiha, and drawn up his forces in order of battle, Sher Sháh with all haste marched towards the Emperor's camp. When the Afgháns were close at hand, news was brought to the Emperor that Sher Khán was coming with all speed to battle with him. The Emperor ordered out his army to resist the attack, saying that after a short delay, and having per­formed his ablutions, he also would follow. The Emperor was a lion (in valour), and in the excess of his gallantry and daring. ^{* *} So from the pride of youth, and confidence in the multitude of his forces and followers, who had no equals for intrepidity and gallantry, he despised the forces of Sher Sháh, who were all Afgháns, and did not even inspect his forces nor pay regard to what is necessary in an engagement; nor did he take into con­sideration the disorganization which the climate of Bengal had produced in his army. Sher Khán knew all the devices and stratagems of war, and knew how to commence and conclude an engagement, and had experienced both prosperity and misfortune. The army of the Mughals had not extricated themselves from their camp, before the Afghán army were already upon them, and coming boldly on, attacked the army of the Emperor with­out hesitation. In the twinkling of an eye they routed the Mughal forces. Humáyún had not completed his ablutions when the intelligence reached him that the Mughals were utterly scattered, so that to rally them was impossible. The confusion in the army was so great that he had no time to remove his family, but fled in the direction of Ágra, with the intention of collecting all his forces at that place, and returning again from thence to destroy his enemy.

Masnad 'Álí Haibat Khán told me 'Abbás Khán, the author of this book, that he was at Sher Khán's side when the Emperor Humáyún's queen, with other noble ladies and a crowd of women, came out from behind the parda. As soon as Sher Khán's eye fell upon them, he alighted off his horse, and showed them every respect and consoled them.* He then performed a special ablution, and returned twofold thanks to the Lord of Eternity, and raising up his hands in prayer with all humility and with tears, said ^{* * *} After this he sent the heralds to proclaim throughout the army, that no person should make captives of or keep a Mughal woman, child, or female slave in his tent one night, but should bring them all to the queen's encampment, and the strictness of his command carried such authority among the Afgháns that no person had any power to resist it; and the heralds before night brought all the wives and families of the Mughals to the queen's encampment and assigned rations to each person. Sher Khán some days afterwards sent the queen to Rohtás under charge of Husain Khán Nírak, and providing the families of the other Mughals with carriages and their neces­sary expenses, sent them on towards Ágra.*

Sher Khán, who had assumed the title of “Hazrat 'Álí,” since the star of victory had risen in the horizon of his good fortune, ordered his munshís to write letters descriptive of his victory to all parts of the country which were in his possession. Masnad 'Álí 'Ísá Khán, son of 'Umar Khán, whose title was “Khán-i 'azam,” and who during the time Sultán Bahlol, after the death of Tátár Khán Yúsuf-khail, held Lahore in jágír, said to Sher Khán, “You should write the letters describing your victory in the style of farmáns.” Sher Khán observed: “You, who formerly were nobles of Sultáns Bahlol and Sikandar, have, for the cause of the Afgháns, done me the honour of joining yourselves to me. It does not become me to send farmáns to you, and to seat myself on the throne while you stand around me. The King of Hindustán has escaped alive, and still holds most of the country in his possession.” 'Ísá Khán explained that he had a great desire to seat Sher Khán upon the throne, and said, “Sultán Sikandar and his descendants, who, out of regard to their clansmen, would not ascend the throne, acted in violation of the custom of kings. It behoves him whom God Almighty brings to empire, and elevates and exalts above the rest of mankind, to observe the rules of etiquette of former princes.” ^{* * *} After this, 'Azam Humáyún Sarwání, said, “The Mughals have been kings for two descents; they despise the Afgháns, and consider them as not their own equals in the day of battle; yet by the excellence of your wisdom and your conquering fortune, the Afgháns have over­thrown them.” ^{* * *} Míán Bábin Lodí and the other Afgháns with one consent cried: “There are none like Masnad 'Álí Kalkapúr* Sarwání and 'Azam Humáyún Sarwání in the army of the Afgháns; what they have said is most right; it is not good to delay.” Sher Khán was much delighted, and said, “The kingly name is a very exalted thing, and is not devoid of trouble; but since the noble minds of my friends have decided to make me king, I agree.” He ordered the astrologers to fix an auspicious moment for his ascent to the throne. When they had consulted the calendar, they came with great delight and said, “An auspicious moment, by the good fortune of your birth hour, has now come. If you at this moment seat yourself upon the throne, defeat and rout will never show their face in your victorious army.” He seated himself on the throne, unfolded the umbrella over his head, and assumed the name of Sher Sháh, and struck coin and caused the khutba to be read in his own name; and he took also the additional title of “Sháh 'Álam.”* He said to 'Ísá Khán, “You are the son of Shaikh Malahi, and have induced me to strike coin and have the khutba read in my own name; write one letter descriptive of the victory with your own hand, the munshís will write the rest.” So 'Ísá Khán wrote one copy with his own hand, and the munshís wrote the rest. For seven days drums were beaten in token of rejoicing; and the young men of the Afghán army came in crowds from every tribe and danced, as is the custom of the Afgháns. ^{* * *}

Sher Khán himself pursued the Emperor Humáyún, and got possession of the whole country as far as Kálpí and Kanauj. He again sent Khawás Khán against Mahárta Cherúh,* to utterly destroy him. Jahángír Kúlí Beg, with 6000 cavalry, was in Bengal; him he ordered to be put to death,* and the chiefs of Hind who were with the Emperor Humáyún he let go free; but Shaikh Khalíl he kept, and made him one of his own friends and counsellors. He sent 'Ísá Khán towards Gujarát and Mándú, and to the chiefs of those parts he wrote, saying, “I am about to send a son of mine into your neighbourhood. When the Emperor Humáyún moves towards Kanauj, do you accom­pany my son, and seize and lay waste the country about Ágra and Dehlí. At that time a certain man, by name Mallú Khán, had made himself king in Mándú, Sárangpúr, and Ujjain, and had assumed the name of Kádir Sháh; and in Ráísín and Chanderí, Bhaiá Púran Mall ruled as deputy of the infant Rájá Partáb, son of Bhúpat Sháh, the son of Saláhu-d dín. In Sewás, Sikandar Khán Miána held sway; and Mahesar was Rájá of Bhopál. These rulers of Málwá wrote in reply, that when Sher Sháh's son came to those parts, they would not fail to assist and serve him. Mallú Khán put his seal at the head of the letter which he sent, and when the letter arrived, Sher Sháh tore up the letter and put the seal in his turban (by way of showing respect ironically).