GLASTONBURY, a town of Somersetshire in England; seated in W. Lon. 2. 46. N. Lat. 51. 15. — It is noted for a famous abbey, some magnificent
ruins of which are still remaining; but they are every day diminishing for the sake of the stones. However, the curious structure called the Abbot's kitchen is still pretty entire, and is of a very unusual contrivance.
The monks pretend that it was the residence of Joseph of Arimathes, and of St. Patrick; but for this assertion they produce no good authority. The king of the West Saxons erected a church here, which he and the succeeding kings enriched to such a degree, that the abbot lived like a prince, had the title of lord, and sat among the barons in parliament; and no person, not even a bishop or prince, durst set foot on the isle of Avalon, in which the abbey stands, without his leave. The revenue of the abbey was above 40,000 l. per ann. besides seven parks well stocked with deer. The last abbot, (Richard Whiting,) who had 100 monks, and 300 domestics, was hanged in his pontificals, with two of his monks, on the Tor, a high hill in the neighbourhood, for refusing to take the oath of supremacy to Henry VIII. and surrender his abbey when required. Edgar and many other Saxon kings were buried here; and, as some will have it, Arthur the British king. — The story of the Glastonbury thorn, and of its budding always upon Christmas-day, is well known: however, that circumstance is false; though, if the winter is mild, it always buds about the latter end of December, but later if the weather is severe.