378 ΚΟΟΕΙί ΟΙ·· WKXDOVER. [Λ.ο. 1210. length of time and without nieces.*, John with a large force had been committing terrible ravages in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. At last he took his way through the town of Lynn, where he was received with joy by the inhabitants, and received large presents from them, lie then took his march towards the north, but in crossing the river Wellcstcr, he lost all his carts, waggons, and baggage horses, together with his money, costly vessels, and everything which he had a particular regard for; for the land opened in the middle of the water and caused whirlpools which sucked in every thing, as well as men and horses, so that no one escaped to tell the king of the misfortune, lie himself narrowly escaped with his army, and passed the following night at a convent called Swinesliead, where, as was thought, he felt such anguish ot mind about his property which was swallowed up by the waters, that he was seized with a violent fever and became ill; his sickness was increased by his pernicious gluttony, for that night he surfeited himself with peaches and drinking new eider, which greatly increased ami aggravateli the fever in bini. He however left that place at early dawn, although in pain, and proceeded to the castle of Lafort to take up his quarters, and at this place he was in such pain, that on the following day it was with difficulty that he reached Newark on horseback ; there his disease gained ground, and he confessed himself and received the eucharist from the abbat of Croxton. Afterwards be appointed bis eldest son Henry his heir, and made his kingdom swear allegiance to him ; he also sent letters under his own seal to all the sheriffs and castellans of the kingdom, ordering them one and all to obey his said son. lîeing then asked by the abbat of Croxton, where he would wish to be buried in case he should die, he answered. " To (!od and St. Wolstan I com mend my body and soul." After this, on the night next after St. f.ukc the Evangelist's day, he departed this life, having reigned eighteen years and a half; his body was dressed in royal robes and carried to Worcester, and was there honourably buried in the cathedral church by the bishop of that place. When the king was drawing near his death at Newark, messengers came to him there with letters from about forty of the barons who wished to make their pence with him again ; but as be was at the point of death he could not give Ids attention to