80
be a courtier of William the Lion (o). By his spouse Sibella, he had a son
Gervaise, who succeeded him in his estates; and a daughter, by whom
William the Lion had his daughter Isabel, whom he married to Robert Bruce,
and after his decease, to Robert de Ross, as we have seen. Robert Avenel
gave a great part of his lands in Eskdale to the monks of Melrose, for whose
society he left the world (p). He was succeeded by Gervaise, who confirmed
his father's grant of Upper Eskdale to the same monks, among whom he was
buried in 1219 (q). Roger Avenel succeeded Gervaise, and though he con-
firmed all those grants to the monks, yet did he dispute their right of
hunting on the lands granted them, which Alexander II. and his barons
judicially settled in favour of the baron (r). The property of the Avenels seems
now to have passed into other families by female heirs.
The manor of Westerkerr, which occupied the middle part of Eskdale, was
probably granted by David I. to Ranulph de Soulis, when the munificent
David gave his follower Liddesdale and other lands in Teviotdale. The
Soulises forfeited their share of Eskdale during the war of the succession, when
it was so difficult to avoid forfeiture.
The lower part of Eskdale, during the reign of Malcolm IV., was held chiefly
by two brothers, who were distinguished by the uncommon name of Rossedal (s).
Such were the lands and the liberality of Turgot de Rossedal ! Guido de
Rossedal possessed some lands on both sides of the lower Liddel (t).
In this manner, then, were the lands lying within the ample districts of
Dumfries-shire acquired by Anglo-Norman barons with their followers,
during the effluxion of years from the demise of Edgar in 1107 to 1290,
when the issue, male and female, of Alexander III. completely failed.
During that long period Dumfries-shire was seldom disturbed, except when
(o) Dipl. Scotiæ, pl. xxiv ; Chart. Paisley, 8 ; Chart. Cupar, 1-2.
(p) Chart. Melrose, 91. This grant was confirmed by William. Ib., 95. Avenel even renounced
the small annuity which he had reserved, and this release he made in consideration that the monks,
every year, should give victuals to commemorate his entrance into their house, and the dates of the
deaths both of him and his widow. Ib., 94. What manners! He died in 1185, and his wife
soon after.                             (5) Ib., 92-96.                                 (r) Ib., 97.
(s) A great part of the lands which lay between the Esk and the Liddel, and between the
Esk and the Sark, belonged to Turgot de Rossedal, and his successor William of the same name.
Turgot founded a religious house on his lands, lying between the Esk and the Liddel, which
became known as the priory of Canoby; and which, with the adjacent lands, he granted to the monks
of Jedburgh.
(t) He granted to the same monks forty acres of lands, at the junction of the Esk and Liddel, with
the fishing in the Liddle. King William's engraved charter to Jedburgh.