THE ANCIENT NORTHMEN, RIDDELL ANCESTRY.
39
able; on the one hand, the singular good fortune attending them in main-
taining the possession of their estates in direct succession for upwards of
six centuries; on the other hand, that having never fallen lower, they
did not rise higher in the scale. Many names once famous have passed
away, and their lands, once called by their names, have gone into other
families, but Riddell after Riddell, of that ilk, followed each other, and
there was never wanting one to transmit the name and honors of the race.
Why, it may be asked, did they not, during that long time, climb to higher
positions, continuing only barons, knights, and gentlemen, while many
less pretentious of antiquity, secured patents of nobility? One explana-
tion may suffice; they held their lands by being contented with an honor-
able and safe level.
"Medio tutissiman ibis.
"Ambition has not unfrequently hurled headlong those who were deter-
mined to ascend higher than a wise Providence intended; while during
the stormy medieval times many of the Scottish nobles and families of sta-
tion tarnished their names by acts of violence and treason, no such stain
attaches to the Riddells; they enjoyed the favor and regard of their sov-
ereigns under whom they lived, receiving knighthood at their hands, and
were granted valuable lands as a reward for services faithfully performed.
But they had higher distinctions than mere worldly ones. In those days,
when to give lands to the church for the service of God was thought to
be a pious work, the Riddells were no niggards of their property, and in
after times when their religious faith caused them to suffer for 'conscience'
sake' they were ready for prison or banishment."
This prestige has clung to the family from generation to generation,
passing unimpaired and unsullied from father to son, from their earliest
history. The Roxburgh Riddells seem to have built a castle on their lands,
and also a church, the former a place of great strength, but long since in
ruins, and now only the earthworks can be seen. A stone was found some
years ago near the present mansion, on which were cut the Riddell arms,
connected with those of the Kerrs, proving a very early alliance with that
historical family,—say four hundred years ago. The chapel built by this
family was a pre-reformation one, but the date of its erection cannot now
be certainly known. Scott mentions the demolition of an ancient church
at the time when the stone coffins, before mentioned, were found; but
clear documentary proofs are wanting. It is evident that the early gen-
erations of the family were buried there, as bones have frequently been
dug up on the ground where the chapel stood.
The Norman Ridels inherited the national roaming disposition and love
of adventure, and consequently we find them engaged with their country-
men in all their wars and conquests; which may account for the fact that
representatives of the family are found in every country newly acquired
by Norman arms, and always as possessed of landed property. Other
members of the Norman stock were early in Scotland, being well allied
by marriage, and owning extensive lands; some of these lost their hold-
ings and removed to other parts, while some established and distinct fam-
ilies are still represented in the west of Scotland, denominated "Riddells
of Ardnamurchan and Sunart."
The Riddells of Ireland, whose history I will now follow, are nearly all
of Scottish origin, offshoots of the ancient families so long known in the
latter country. There were some, however, who evidently went to Ireland
