John VI offered cash payments to the Ottoman sultan Orhan to vacate the city, but was refused. The sultan reportedly said he had not taken the city by force and could not give up something which had been "granted to him by Allah".
John VI offered monetary compensation to Ottoman sultan Orhan to relinquish control of the city, but was denied. The sultan allegedly stated that he had not seized the city through force and could not surrender something that had been "bestowed upon him by God."