THE

WASH  , a shallow bay of the North Sea, on the Lincoln-shire and Norfolk coast of England . It is roughly square in shape, penetrating the land for 22 m., and being 20 M. wide at the head and 12 at the mouth . Through the sandbanks which form its bed there are two main channels into deep water; one, Boston Deeps, is kept open by the waters of the Witham and Welland; the other, Lynn Deeps, gives passage to those of the Nene and the Great Ouse . The Wash is the remnant of a much larger bay, which covered a large part of the Fens which now border it; it is gradually filling with the deposits of the rivers, and from time to time small portions are reclaimed (see FENS) . The flat bordering lands are protected by sea-walls . The formerly dangerous passage of the marsh-lands, which were liable to irruptions of the tide, is illustrated by the accident to King John in 1216 shortly before his death . Passing over the Cross Keys Wash, near Sutton Bridge, his baggage and treasure wagons were engulfed and he himself barely escaped with life .