Tyler and his army drew up on the west side, and when Walworth opened the proceedings by calling on Wat Tyler to speak with the king, Tyler, seated on a little horse, rode out into the middle of the square with a single attendant. There he dismounted, dropped on one knee before the king, and shook him heartily by the hand. He bade Richard be of good cheer, and declared that within a fortnight he should have even more thanks from the commons than he had won already. “You and I shall be good comrades yet,” Tyler added. Richard, in some embarrassment, enquired why the commons did not return home, and Tyler answered with a great and solemn oath that no one should leave the city until they had got a further redressing of all their grievances. “And much the worse will it be for the lords of this realm if this charter be refused,” he concluded. Then Richard bade Tyler say what charter it was the commons demanded. “First, then,” said Tyler, “let no law but the law of Winchester prevail throughout the land, and let no man be made an outlaw by the decree of judges and lawyers.[67] Grant also that no lord shall henceforth exercise lordship over the commons; and since we are oppressed by so vast a horde of bishops and clerks, let there be but one bishop in England; and let the property and goods of the holy Church be divided fairly according to the needs of the people in each parish, after in justice making suitable provision for the present clergy and monks. Finally, let there be no more villeins in England, but grant us all to be free and of one condition.” “All that you have asked for I promise readily,” Richard answered, “if only it be consistent with the regality of my crown. And now let the commons return home since their requests have been granted.” In the presence of his nobles and the hearing of his people the king had promised that the demands of his subjects should be granted. For Wat Tyler the victory seemed complete, and now that the battle was won he called out that he was thirsty, and complained of a parched throat. The days had been strenuous, and Tyler longed for a draught of the good home-brewed beer of his native county. His attendant brought him water, and Tyler rinsed out his mouth with it, to the disgust of the king’s courtiers. Then beer was brought in a mighty tankard, and Tyler drank a deep draught to the health of “King Richard and the Commons.” He remounted his little horse, while the nobles stood by in silent and sullen anger, “for no lord or counsellor dared to open his mouth and give an answer to the commons in such a situation.” Had they not heard it proclaimed that henceforth all were to be free and equal in the land? A “valet of Kent,” some knight in the royal service, broke silence, muttering loudly his opinion that Wat Tyler was the greatest thief and robber in all Kent. Tyler caught the abusive words, and immediately ordered his attendant to cut down the man who had spoken in this insulting fashion.