104 PAPERS, ETC. 
controversy between the monks and the bishops 
of the diocese, for upwards of 400 years. 
From this time the abbey appears to have increased 
in splendor and wealth, receiving from time to time 
munificent benefactions both from royal and private 
viety, until the incursions of the northern pirates 
spread distress and poverty through the whole 
island. Of this suffering, Glastonbury appears to 
have undergone its full share, for in the reign of 
Edmund, the abbey had so fallen from its ancient 
splendor, that that monarch thought fit to appoint 
the celebrated St. Dunstan to restore it to its former 
magnificence, and granted him the free use of the 
royal treasures for that purpose. In the year 942, 
the new foundation was laid, and in 944, a charter 
was granted to Dunstan and the Benedictine monks, 
whom he had introduced, confirming all former 
grants, increasing their privileges and powers, and 
empowering them to hold their lands, as free from 
all claims, as the king held his own. Though after 
the death of Edmund, who was buried in the church 
of Glastonbury, St. Dunstan was banished, and 
deprived of his abbey by Edwy, the bounty of the 
Saxon and Danish monarchs still enriched Glaston- 
bury with a profusion of wealth ; Edwy, Edgar, and 
Edmund II, vied with each other in liberality to 
the church ; and Canute not only granted a charter 
in favor of the abbey, but also gave it this remark- 
able privilege, that no subject should enter the 
Glaston twelve hides, without leave or permission 
