The Family of Riddell, by Thomas Arkle. 325 



brothers of Monsieur Kidel, as a party of Normans had a little 

 previous to the earlier date invaded Italy, and eventually Sicily. 



"William bestowed on his Eidel follower large landed property 

 in England, where the family became celebrated, and some of 

 them held high official appointments. One of the Eiddells 

 married a daughter of the Earl of Chester, from whom was 

 descended Maud, wife of David, Earl of Huntingdon, a maternal 

 ancestor of the Bruce. 



Some of the members of the family emigrated to Scotland, with 

 the Prince of Cumberland, afterwards David the first. Gervasius 

 Ridel, was a great favourite of the Prince, who in 1116 appointed 

 him Sheriff of Eoxburghshire, the earliest on record. He must 

 have been a constant attendant on royalty, for he is a frequent 

 witness to crown charters, and especially to that celebrated com- 

 mission appointed in the year 1116 for enquiring into the revenue 

 of the Church at Glasgow. 



Walter Eidel accompanied Gervasius in the suite of Prince 

 David, but there is some doubt whether he was the son of Ger- 

 vasius, or only a brother or near relative. He also enjoyed the 

 friendship and patronage of royalty, and was a witness to crown 

 and other charters of importance. The grant to Sir Walter from 

 David the first of the lands of Western Lilliesleaf, Whitton, &c, 

 which are now called the Barony of Eiddell (dated somewhere 

 between 1125 and 1153), is remarkable as being the oldest 

 charter extant from a king to a layman. This ancient document 

 became so frail that it was " legally" copied at Jedburgh in 1506 ; 

 and the lands granted by it continued in the family for upwards 

 of six hundred years without an entail ; a fact highly honourable 

 to the members through whom they were handed down. 



Besides this ancient charter there is a bull from Pope Adrian 

 the IV., nearly as old, confirming the properties vested in Walter 

 to his brother and heir Anchitell, Walter having no family. This 

 bull must have been granted between 1154 and 1159, but the 

 year is not given. 



There is another bull from Alexander the III., who succeeded 

 Adrian, dated 17th of June, 1 160, confirming the will of the said 

 Walter de Eidal bequeathing to his brother Anchitell the lands 

 of Lilliesclive, Whettunes, &c, and ratifying a bargain concern- 

 ing the church of Lilliesclive. 



There is also another bull of the same Pope, confirming the 



