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GENERAL HISTORY OF MONASTERIES. 



Before I enter on the history of Keldholme Prio- 

 ry, I shall occupy the attention of the reader, in 

 detailing the rise and progress of Monks and Mon- 

 asteries, and in shewing the connexion they had 

 with the advancement of Christianity ; that his 

 mind may be prepared for the more profitable read- 

 ing of the accounts of the various religious houses, 

 which are given in this work. 



The introduction of the Christian religion into 

 this country, was very early ; and though I am not 

 disposed to credit every thing, which is recorded of 

 the first ages of it ; yet I shall endeavour to shew 

 that Britain participated in its benefits, not long 

 after the commencement of the Christian era. Not 

 all Britain ; but those places which lay near the 

 coasts, on which the Christian missionaries landed ; 

 and churches and monasteries, or religious houses, 

 were built at different times, and by various persons, 

 as circumstances offered, and inclination suited. 



It is said, though with little probability, that in 

 the year A. D. 63, Joseph of Arimathea, who buried 

 the body of Christ, came here and laid the founda- 

 tion of the Christian faith in the western parts, at a 

 place called Thurdet, now Glastonbury, and that 

 there came with him Mary Magdalen, and Martha : 

 that Simon Zelotes suffered Martyrdom in Britain ; 

 and that St. Peter, and St. Paul, came into this 

 Island, and preached the gospel. Whether this b 

 true er not, it is believed that it was preached about 



