King David I of Scotland is often a neglected figure in Scot's histories.. But it was in David's reign that Scotland was molded into a great nation. He supported the monastic and military orders of Cistercians and Benedictines Templars through gifts of land. He founded abbeys ( amongst them Melrose, the daughter abbey of Rievaulx ) and created an infrastructure for a common justice. This was the beginning of a golden age.
   It was Ailred, one of David's servants and supporters before he became master of novices at Rievaulx Abbey, who laments in 1141-2 that a novice who could not shed a tear over a pious discourse 'had frequently been moved to tears by fables which were invented and disseminated concerning an unknown Arthur.' David was supporting the cause of Matilda in England and was closely allied with Robert, Earl of Gloucester who was then the patron of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Though there is no record of a meeting between the three men, within a year David begins to call Edinburgh 'the Castle of Maidens'. It is in the foundation document of Newbattle Abbey (daughter house of Melrose) that 'Castle of Maidens' is first used.
   In 1149, David knights the future King Henry II at Carlisle on Whit Sunday. David also set about restoring the diocese of St. Kentigern of Glasgow. He set up a jury of earls, knights, barons and noblemen and assured an earnest discussion on all information that could be gathered regarding Kentigern. This enquiry laid the ground for Joceline's Life of Kentigern, written for the restored diocese with every scrap of written Life and all the oral tales that could be found.
   David I died in 1153. Ailred of Rievaulx wrote his funeral oration.