_John's Spoils from Peterborough and Crowland._--Clement Spelman, in his
Preface to the reader, with which he introduces his father's treatise _De
non temerandis Ecclesiis_, says (edit. Oxford, 1841, p.45.):
"I cannot omit the sacrilege and punishment of King John, who in the
seventeenth year of his reign, among other churches, rifled the abbeys
of {572} Peterborough and Croyland, and after attempts to carry his
sacrilegious wealth from Lynn to Lincoln; but, passing the Washes, the
earth in the midst of the waters opens her mouth (as for Korah and his
company), and at once swallows up both carts, carriage, and horses, all
his treasure, all his regalities, all his church spoil, and all the
church spoilers; not one escapes to bring the king word," &c.
Is the precise spot known where this catastrophe occurred, or have any
relics been since recovered to give evidence of the fact?