“A monastery more noble, whether one considers the endowments, largeness, or unparalleled magnificence, the sun never saw.  One might think the monastery alone a city:  it has three grand gates for entrances, some whereof are brass, many towers, high walls, and a church than which nothing can be more magnificent.”

The immense minster, with its lofty western and central towers, rose above the monastic buildings, which were enclosed by a wall.  To the north was a great cloister, with the various conventual offices, to the southwest lay the cemetery and church of St. Mary, while immediately before the west front of the church stood the Norman tower leading to St. James’s Church.

Sufficient is left of the reverend walls to convey some idea of the former vastness of the abbey and its attendant buildings.  Of the minster itself little remains—­some arches of the west front, now converted into private houses, and the bases of the piers which supported the central tower.  The site of St. Edmunds’ Chapel—­the part of the building which contained the famous and much-visited shrine—­is at the east end of the church.  Besides these relics of the minster, there still exists the Norman tower—­built during the time of Abbot Anselm, and formerly known as the principal entrance to the cemetery of St. Edmund, and latterly as the “Churchgate” and bell tower of St. James’s Church—­the abbot’s bridge (Decorated) of three arches; portions of the walls, and the abbey gateway....

First among the abbots of Bury stands the name of Samson, “the wolf who raged among the monks.”  Many of the brothers had become entangled with Jewish money-lenders in the twelfth century, and Abbot Samson, while protecting the Jews at the time of the massacre, discharged all the debts of his house, established many new rules, and set a godly and strenuous example to his followers.  Later, in 1205, the chief barons met at Bury in opposition to King John, and swore at the second meeting, four years later, in the presence of the king and Archbishop Langton, to stand by their cause till the king should be induced to sign the Great Charter, and to establish those liberties which we still enjoy.

Glastonbury [Footnote:  From “The Abbeys of Great Britain.”]

BY H. CLAIBORNE DIXON

Tho once surrounded by fenland, the Abbey of Glastonbury—­a veritable treasure-house of legendary lore—­stands now amid orchards and level pasture lands engirt by the river Bure.  The majestic Tor overshadows this spot, where, undoubtedly, the first British Christian settlement was established.  The name of the new builder of the first early church can never be ascertained, so that in want of more substantial evidence the old legend of St. Joseph of Arimathaea must be accepted, however slight its claims to historical authority.  Certain it is that Christianity was introduced into this land on the island of Yniswytryn, or “Isle of Glass” (so called on account of its crystal streams), in the very early centuries.