On his return from the Crusades King Richard was taken hostage by Duke Leopold demanding a ransom of 150,000 marks. John reluctantly had to raise the ransom, leaving the country destitute for years and reducing John's inheritance ("They picked it clean"). The ransom was paid and Richard was released. John was crowned King of England following the death of Richard in 1199. He had his marriage to Joan annulled, she was never acknowledged as queen. She then married again to Geoffrey de Mandeville and her third husband was Hubert de Burgh. Jack Sprat rhyme aka Jack Spratt Jack Sprat could eat no fat
His wife could eat no lean
And so betwixt the two of them
They licked the platter clean Jack ate all the lean,
Joan ate all the fat.
The bone they picked it clean,
Then gave it to the cat Jack Sprat was wheeling,
His wife by the ditch.
The barrow turned over,
And in she did pitch. Says Jack, "She'll be drowned!"
But Joan did reply,
"I don't think I shall,
For the ditch is quite dry." Jack Sprat rhyme aka Jack Spratt | 
