October 11 saw him spending the night in the little town of Kings Lynn, resting after crossing half England, giving his horses and men-at-arms breathing space after a long trek down from the north.
King John had it in mind to have luis treasure cross that strip known as the "Wash," after he had first gone ahead with his retinue—as he and his knights would move quicker than the great wagons of gold and silver treasure.
In order to save time, therefore, as soon as the men-at-arms, and the knights were rested the King passed safely over the Wash before midday, and on the evening of October 12 stopped at Swines-head Abbey. e great treasure was to follow immediately.
With hundreds of mailed guards, the great treasure carts started out—great rough carts and tumbrils weighed down by the heavy treasure coffers, the big horses dragging their burdens of loot from abbeys, and palaces, and churches, and monasteries; the armour ers' wagons with spare tools and spare armour.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.