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The siege of Zanjan was still in progress when he, dispensing with an explicit order from his sovereign, and acting independently of his counsellors and fellow- ministers, dispatched his order to Prince Hamzih Mirza, the Hishmatu'd- Dawlih, the governor of Adhirbayjan, instructing him to execute the Bab. Fearing lest the infliction of such condign punishment in the capital of the realm would set in motion forces he might be powerless to control, he ordered that his Captive be taken to Tabriz, and there be done to death. Confronted with a flat refusal by the indignant Prince to perform what he regarded as a flagitious crime, the Amir- Nizam commissioned his own brother, Mirza Hasan Khan, to execute his orders. The usual formalities designed to secure the necessary authorization from the leading mujtahids of Tabriz were hastily and easily completed. Neither Mulla Muhammad- i- Mamaqani, however, who had penned the Bab's death- warrant on the very day of His examination in Tabriz, nor Haji Mirza Baqir, nor Mulla Murtada- Quli, to whose houses their Victim was ignominiously led by the farrash- bashi, by order of the Grand Vizir, condescended to meet face to face their dreaded Opponent.
(51:2)
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