This monastery was one of the three houses of the order of Valliscaulium founded under Alexander II. in his recently acquired dominions in the Highlands, the other houses of the order being at Beauly, in Inverness-shire, and Ardchattan, in Argyleshire. The policy adopted by David I., in the twelfth century, of extending civilisation and order by the planting of religious houses, was thus continued by his successor in the thirteenth century. We have seen how Alexander II. encouraged the building of Elgin Cathedral, and it is recorded that, besides the above monasteries, he endowed religious houses in Elgin for the Dominicans and Franciscans. Pluscarden Priory stands in a long, well-sheltered valley, about six miles south-west from Elgin. The hills on either side are of moderate height, and the glen is well planted and cultivated. The priory, which is dedicated to St. Andrew, stands on a level holm on the bank of the Blackwater, and has a southern aspect at the base of a wooded hill. It is surrounded with fine old trees, and the ancient gardens and precincts of the monks are now cultivated as a thriving nursery, and kept in beautiful order. Part of the ancient wall of the precinct, with a gateway towards the east, is still preserved. The climate is mild and suitable for the growth of vegetation, as is apparent from the very luxuriant crop of ivy which covers the buildings and almost entirely conceals their architecture. The first charter of Alexander II. is dated in 1236, and endows the monastery with the whole valley of the Blackwater, and with mills in Elgin. Little is heard of the priory for many years after its institution beyond the usual disputes with the neighbouring lay proprietors regarding boundaries, &c., but the establishment seems to have gradually dwindled, and in 1398 the buildings had been allowed to fall into disrepair. The election of Alexander as superior at that date proceeded on the expectation that he would be able to defend the possessions of the monastery and repair the church and dwellings of the monks. During the fifteenth century it seems to have fared ill with the monastic establishments of Morayshire, for we find that the priory of Urquhart, in that county, founded by David I. in 1125, had also dwindled like Pluscarden. In 1454 John Benaly, prior of Urquhart, whose brethren consisted of only two monks, petitions Pope Nicholas V. that he would unite the priory of Urquhart to that of Pluscarden. He states that, owing to various calamities, the income of the priories had so diminished that they were unable to support a prior in each house with a decent and competent number of religious men, or to keep up the buildings and services; so that in Pluscarden there were generally not above six monks, and in Urquhart only two.[58] It is stated by Shaw and other writers that the monks of Pluscarden had become vicious, and that, therefore, the priory was reformed and made a cell of Dunfermline.