Then these people who were camped on Blackheath determined to send their knight to speak with the king and to tell him how all that they have done or will do is for him and his honour. And how for a long time now, the realm of England has not been well governed for the honour of the realm nor for the common profit, by his uncles, and by the clergy. Especially by the archbishop of Canterbury, his chancellor. Of whom they demanded an accounting. This knight did not dare to do otherwise. So he came by the river Thames to the Tower. The king and those who were with him in the Tower, wanting to hear news, and seeing this knight coming, they made way for him, and he was brought before the king into a chamber. With the king were the princess his mother, and his two brothers, the earl of Kent and the lord John Holland, the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Warwick, the earl of Oxford, the archbishop of Canterbury, the lord of Saint John's, sir Robert of Namur, the lord of Vertaing, the lord of Gommegnies, sir Henry of Senzeille, the mayor of London and various other notable city fathers. This knight sir John Newton, was well known among them, because he was one of the king's officers.

He knelt down before the king, and he said: 'My right redoubted lord, do not be displeased, your grace, by the message that I have to tell you, because, dear sir, it is by force and against my will.'

'Sir John,' said the king, 'say what you will: I hold you excused.'

'Sir, the commoners of your realm have sent me to you to ask you to come and speak with them on Blackheath. Because they want to have no one but you. And, sir, you need not have any doubts for your safety, because they will not hurt you. Because they will always respect you for their king. But, sir, they say they will tell you various things, which shall be very necessary for you to take heed of, when they speak with you; of which things, sir, I have no authority to tell you. But, sir, it may please you to give me an answer such as may appease them, so that they may know for truth that I have spoken with you; because they hold my children hostage till I return to them. And unless I return, they will slay my children immediately.'

The king said: 'Sir, you shall have an answer shortly.'