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.

According to the Arthurian legends, St. Philip, Lazarus, Martha, Mary and
Joseph of Arimathaea, having been banished by their countrymen, journeyed
to Marseilles, from whence Joseph, with twelve companions and holy women,
was sent by St. Philip to Britain. They landed on the southwest coast and
made their way to Glastonbury, then Avalon (and so named in allusion to
its apple orchards), and by means of preaching and many miraculous deeds
persuaded the people to adopt Christianity. Gaining the good will of King
Arviragus, they built a church of wattle and twigs on the ground given to
them by their royal patron. The Benedictine, with its later developments
in Norman times of Augustine and Cluniac orders, was the first religious
order introduced into this country. It was instituted in Italy early in
the sixth century by St. Bened