# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morville, Richard de

​MORVILLE, RICHARD de (d. 1189), constable of Scotland, was son of Hugh de Morville, by Beatrice de Beauchamp. Hugh de Morville (d. 1162) was a member of a family settled at Burgh-by-Sands, Cumberland, who took service under David I [q. v.], king of Scots, and received grants of land in Lauderdale, the Lothians, and Cunninghame. He was made constable of Scotland by David. His name first occurs as witness to the 'Inquisitio Davidis' in 1116, and after this is of frequent occurrence as a witness to royal charters. In 1140 he assisted David in his attempt to procure the bishopric of Durham for William Cumin. Hugh de Morville founded Dryburgh Abbey in 1150 (Chron. de Mailros, p. 78 ; but in the charter of foundation King David is named), and he and his wife and children were liberal benefactors of the abbey (Reg. Dryburgh, pp. 3, 9, 10). He also founded Kilwinning Abbey in 1140. By his wife, Beatrice, daughter of Pagan de Beauchamp or Bello-Campo (Coll. Top. et Gen. vi. 86), he had three sons, Richard, Roger, and Malcolm (who was killed when young), and a daughter, Ada (Reg. Dryburgh, pp. 9, 10, 68-70, 102). He was of the same family as Hugh de Morville (d. 1204) [q. v.], the murderer of Thomas Becket ; but the true relationship seems doubtful. Dugdale's account of the family is clearly confused ; nor does there seem to be any sufficient ground for supposing that they were father and son.
Richard de Morville is perhaps the son of Hugh, who was given as a hostage for the peace between England and Scotland in 1139 (Richard of Hexham, in Chron. Steph., Hen. II, &c.,iii. 178, Rolls Ser.; but cf. Hugh de Morville, d. 1204). He succeeded his father as constable in 1162, and occurs frequently as witness to charters in the reign of Malcolm IV. He was one of the chief advisers of William the Lion, and during the invasion of England in 1174 commanded a part of the Scottish army before Alnwick. Under the treaty of Falaise, in August 1175, Morville was one of the hostages given by William for its fulfilment (Hoveden, ii. 60, 75). For his share in this war Morville was for a time disseized of his English lands at Bozeat, Northamptonshire (Cal. Documents relating to Scotland, i. 294). In 1181 John, bishop of Glasgow, excommunicated Morville for having stirred up strife between him and the king (Hoveden, ii. 263). Morville was present as royal constable at the decision of the dispute between the abbey of Melrose and the men of Wedhale on 18 Oct. 1184. He died in 1189, having been for a short time previous to his death an inmate of Melrose Abbey.
Richard de Morville married before 1170 Avice, daughter of William de Lancastria (Cal. Documents relating to Scotland, i. 124). She gave Newby to the monks of Furness (ib. i. 195), and, together with her husband, was a benefactor of Melrose (Munimenta de Melros, p. 160). Avice died on 1 Jan. 1191. By her Morville had a son William, who was constable of Scotland, and died in 1196, leaving no offspring by his wife Christiana. The office of constable then passed to Rolland de Galloway who had married William's sister, Elena or Helena. Elena had two sons, Alan de Galloway, and Thomas, earl of Athol. Alan, who died in 1234, left by Margaret, daughter of David, earl of Huntingdon, three daughters : Helena, wife of Roger de Quincy; Christiana, wife of William de Fortibus, son of the Earl of ​ Albemarle; and Devorguila, wife of John Baliol (d. 1269) [q. v.]
[Roger Hoveden (Rolls Ser.); Melrose Chron., Registers of Dryburgh, Dunfermline, and Newbottle (all these are published by the Bannatyne Club); Chalmers's Caledonia, i. 503-5, ii. 336; Dugdale's Baronage, i. 612; Gent. Mag. 1856, i. 380-2.]
C. L. K.