Individual Details
Sir Malcolm Fleming of Biggar
(1383 - 24 Nov 1440)
[[Category:Clan Fleming]]
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==Biography==Malcolm was the son of Sir [[Fleming-323|David Fleming]], Lord of Cumbernauld and Biggar, and his second wife, [[Strathechin-1|Isabel Strathechin]].[[#S-1]] Balfour Paul; Vol 8, [https://archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun08pauluoft#page/530/mode/2up page 530][[#S-2]] William Hunter; [https://archive.org/stream/biggarhouseoffle1867hunt#page/482/mode/2up page 483]
He, designed of Biggar and Cumbernauld had a charter, as son and heir of David Fleming of Biggar, Knight, to him, and his heirs-male of his body, whom failing, to David, his brother, from King Robert III. of the castle and lands of Cumbernauld and others, reserving his liferent, on 7 March 1401. This likely the point at which he took control of the estates with his father remaining in life-rent.
It might be supposed that Malcolm Fleming, having lost his father at the hands of the Albany Stewarts and the family of Douglas, that he would hold them as an enemy, but, instead of this, he married the daughter of the one, and became the intimate friend and counsellor of the other.[[#S-2]] William Hunter; [https://archive.org/stream/biggarhouseoffle1867hunt#page/484/mode/2up page 485] The former will nearly cost him his life and the latter of which certainly did. They were however the most powerful faction in Scotland and it must be presumed that Fleming put aside his bitterness to align with the strength.
In 1404, 24 August, he received another charter from Robert III. of the lands of Barbreck, in the earldom of Carrick.
In 1413, 28 June, he received a charter from Robert, Duke of Albany, of the lands and barony of Biggar, and annualrents upliftable from the lands of Kerse pertaining to the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, in which he is called "beloved son", to him and Elizabeth Stewart, his wife, daughter to the said Governor. Another charter, about the same time, another charter from his father-in-law of the lands of Torwood, in Stirlingshire, which had been resigned by William Lindsay of Byres.
He was a hostage for the return of King James I. prior to 1421 as he was allowed to visit Scotland 31 May 1421, and as Malcolm, Lord of Biggar, he was nominated as a hostage for his majesty's release, by treaty on 4 December 1423. He had a safe conduct to come into England to meet King James 13 December 1423. This likely the exchange of hostages.
James I returned to Scotland after his imprisonment in 1424 and immediately set about removing what was left of the power base of the Albany Stewarts after their decimation on the field at [[:Category:Battle of Verneuil|Verneuil]] under [[Douglas-389|Sir Archibald Douglas]]. Fleming, the brother-in-law of Murdoch Stewart, then head of the Albany Stewarts, was apprehended in 1425 but he was soon free.
However his alliance with the Albany Stewarts and the Earl of Douglas put him in opposition to the Royal house of James I and Fleming was always under suspicion. Many of the supporters of the Albany Stewarts rallied under Walter Stewart, earl of Atholl, an embittered nephew to James who, although seemingly supportive of James appears to hvae been so in order to further his own claim as King. Walter Stewart joined with his grandson Robert Stewart, Master of Atholl and Sir Robert Graham in a conspiracy against James I, which assassinated the king on 20 February 1437. It is not known whether Fleming played an active part in this conspiracy but he certainly came under suspicion.
The Queen survived the ordeal and James, the son, then 6 also survived. While the assassins were executed, gruesomely, immediately after the hunt went on.
===Trial and Execution===In 1440, accompanying William Douglas, Earl of Douglas, to the Castle of Edinburgh, he was, after a mock trial, along with the Earl and his brother, found guilty of treason and beheaded there 24 November 1440. His lands of Monycabok (those of his mother) forfeited.
It seems that William Douglas, the 6th Earl of Douglas, his brother David, and his advisor Sir Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld were lured to Edinburgh on the pretence of a celebration, of reconciliation for the Douglas family, arriving at Edinburgh Castle on November 24, 1440.
According to legend, a banquet was held in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, and the young James II, who must have been 10 at the time, was charmed with the company of the Douglases. At the end of the feast, the head of a black bull was brought into the hall. Under Scottish custom, this formality presaged the death of the principal guest(s) at a dinner. James II is alleged to have pleaded for the lives of his new friends to be spared, but they were said to have been beheaded in front of the king.
However, Livingston providesThe Livingstons of Callendar, Edinburgh University Press, 1920: E.B. Livingston; pages 43 and 44 that “But what we do know for certain is that on the arrival of the Earl of Douglas at the castle, he was at once arrested, together with his only brother David, and his friend and counsellor Sir Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld, who had accompanied him; that the three of them were hastily tried for high treason, found guilty, and promptly beheaded on the Castle Hill. The earl and his brother were executed on 24 November, 1440, and Sir Malcolm Fleming four days later. The later execution must have been carried out contrary to the wishes of Livingston, hence probably the four days’ delay. For about three years later, on 16 August 1443, Sir Alexander Livingston, in the presence of Robert Fleming and four bishops, solemnly purged himself upon oath of having given any counsel, assistance, or consent to the slaughter of Sir Malcolm Fleming. “Some of the old chronicle writers, who like some modern journalists were not averse to inserting fictitious picturesque details, so as to enliven their narratives, declare that the Douglases were arrested while sitting at dinner, on the signal being given by a black bull’s head, supposed to be a sign of sudden death, being placed on the table; and this fable, according to an old historian of the House of Douglas, gave rise to the following doggerel rhyme:— ‘Edinburgh castle, toun, and tower, God grant ye sink for sin; And that even for the black-dinner, Earl Douglas gat therin.’ This is also discussed by William Hunter.[[#S-2]] William Hunter; [https://archive.org/stream/biggarhouseoffle1867hunt#page/486/mode/2up page 487]
===Family===He had married, before 28 June 1413 and likely about 1405, [[Stewart-1189|Elizabeth Stewart]], daughter of Robert, Duke of Albany. Governor of Scotland, and niece of King Robert III., who is known as Lady Biggar during her life. They had children:
* Malcolm Fleming, nominated as Malcolm Fleming, son and heir of Malcolm Fleming, Lord of Cumbernauld, a hostage for King James I. in place of Andrew Gray 9 November 1427, and released 20 June 1432. He was likely of age, or near, at this point and thus must have been born about 1405, therefore dating his parents marriage. He died vita patris (before his father) without issue.
* [[Fleming-334|Robert Fleming]], who will inherit from him.
* Margaret Fleming, who married Patrick Gray, Master of Gray, as appears from an obligation for her portion of 600 merks, dated 7 February 1440. They had no issue.
===References===
== Sources ==
* Source S-1 }
* Source S-2 }
==Acknowledgements==This person was created through the import of Jim Walker gedcom 4 Wikitree may 22 2011.ged on 24 May 2011. The following data was included in the gedcom. You may wish to edit it for readability.
WikiTree profile Fleming-751 created through the import of MOORMAN FAMILY.GED on May 31, 2011 by [[Stewart-2795 | Mary Elizabeth Stewart]]. See the [http://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Special:NetworkFeed&who=Fleming-751 Changes page] for the details of edits by Mary Elizabeth and others.
Thanks to [[Newberry-253 | Michael Newberry]] for starting this profile.
}
}
==Biography==Malcolm was the son of Sir [[Fleming-323|David Fleming]], Lord of Cumbernauld and Biggar, and his second wife, [[Strathechin-1|Isabel Strathechin]].[[#S-1]] Balfour Paul; Vol 8, [https://archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun08pauluoft#page/530/mode/2up page 530][[#S-2]] William Hunter; [https://archive.org/stream/biggarhouseoffle1867hunt#page/482/mode/2up page 483]
He, designed of Biggar and Cumbernauld had a charter, as son and heir of David Fleming of Biggar, Knight, to him, and his heirs-male of his body, whom failing, to David, his brother, from King Robert III. of the castle and lands of Cumbernauld and others, reserving his liferent, on 7 March 1401. This likely the point at which he took control of the estates with his father remaining in life-rent.
It might be supposed that Malcolm Fleming, having lost his father at the hands of the Albany Stewarts and the family of Douglas, that he would hold them as an enemy, but, instead of this, he married the daughter of the one, and became the intimate friend and counsellor of the other.[[#S-2]] William Hunter; [https://archive.org/stream/biggarhouseoffle1867hunt#page/484/mode/2up page 485] The former will nearly cost him his life and the latter of which certainly did. They were however the most powerful faction in Scotland and it must be presumed that Fleming put aside his bitterness to align with the strength.
In 1404, 24 August, he received another charter from Robert III. of the lands of Barbreck, in the earldom of Carrick.
In 1413, 28 June, he received a charter from Robert, Duke of Albany, of the lands and barony of Biggar, and annualrents upliftable from the lands of Kerse pertaining to the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, in which he is called "beloved son", to him and Elizabeth Stewart, his wife, daughter to the said Governor. Another charter, about the same time, another charter from his father-in-law of the lands of Torwood, in Stirlingshire, which had been resigned by William Lindsay of Byres.
He was a hostage for the return of King James I. prior to 1421 as he was allowed to visit Scotland 31 May 1421, and as Malcolm, Lord of Biggar, he was nominated as a hostage for his majesty's release, by treaty on 4 December 1423. He had a safe conduct to come into England to meet King James 13 December 1423. This likely the exchange of hostages.
James I returned to Scotland after his imprisonment in 1424 and immediately set about removing what was left of the power base of the Albany Stewarts after their decimation on the field at [[:Category:Battle of Verneuil|Verneuil]] under [[Douglas-389|Sir Archibald Douglas]]. Fleming, the brother-in-law of Murdoch Stewart, then head of the Albany Stewarts, was apprehended in 1425 but he was soon free.
However his alliance with the Albany Stewarts and the Earl of Douglas put him in opposition to the Royal house of James I and Fleming was always under suspicion. Many of the supporters of the Albany Stewarts rallied under Walter Stewart, earl of Atholl, an embittered nephew to James who, although seemingly supportive of James appears to hvae been so in order to further his own claim as King. Walter Stewart joined with his grandson Robert Stewart, Master of Atholl and Sir Robert Graham in a conspiracy against James I, which assassinated the king on 20 February 1437. It is not known whether Fleming played an active part in this conspiracy but he certainly came under suspicion.
The Queen survived the ordeal and James, the son, then 6 also survived. While the assassins were executed, gruesomely, immediately after the hunt went on.
===Trial and Execution===In 1440, accompanying William Douglas, Earl of Douglas, to the Castle of Edinburgh, he was, after a mock trial, along with the Earl and his brother, found guilty of treason and beheaded there 24 November 1440. His lands of Monycabok (those of his mother) forfeited.
It seems that William Douglas, the 6th Earl of Douglas, his brother David, and his advisor Sir Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld were lured to Edinburgh on the pretence of a celebration, of reconciliation for the Douglas family, arriving at Edinburgh Castle on November 24, 1440.
According to legend, a banquet was held in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, and the young James II, who must have been 10 at the time, was charmed with the company of the Douglases. At the end of the feast, the head of a black bull was brought into the hall. Under Scottish custom, this formality presaged the death of the principal guest(s) at a dinner. James II is alleged to have pleaded for the lives of his new friends to be spared, but they were said to have been beheaded in front of the king.
However, Livingston providesThe Livingstons of Callendar, Edinburgh University Press, 1920: E.B. Livingston; pages 43 and 44 that “But what we do know for certain is that on the arrival of the Earl of Douglas at the castle, he was at once arrested, together with his only brother David, and his friend and counsellor Sir Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld, who had accompanied him; that the three of them were hastily tried for high treason, found guilty, and promptly beheaded on the Castle Hill. The earl and his brother were executed on 24 November, 1440, and Sir Malcolm Fleming four days later. The later execution must have been carried out contrary to the wishes of Livingston, hence probably the four days’ delay. For about three years later, on 16 August 1443, Sir Alexander Livingston, in the presence of Robert Fleming and four bishops, solemnly purged himself upon oath of having given any counsel, assistance, or consent to the slaughter of Sir Malcolm Fleming. “Some of the old chronicle writers, who like some modern journalists were not averse to inserting fictitious picturesque details, so as to enliven their narratives, declare that the Douglases were arrested while sitting at dinner, on the signal being given by a black bull’s head, supposed to be a sign of sudden death, being placed on the table; and this fable, according to an old historian of the House of Douglas, gave rise to the following doggerel rhyme:— ‘Edinburgh castle, toun, and tower, God grant ye sink for sin; And that even for the black-dinner, Earl Douglas gat therin.’ This is also discussed by William Hunter.[[#S-2]] William Hunter; [https://archive.org/stream/biggarhouseoffle1867hunt#page/486/mode/2up page 487]
===Family===He had married, before 28 June 1413 and likely about 1405, [[Stewart-1189|Elizabeth Stewart]], daughter of Robert, Duke of Albany. Governor of Scotland, and niece of King Robert III., who is known as Lady Biggar during her life. They had children:
* Malcolm Fleming, nominated as Malcolm Fleming, son and heir of Malcolm Fleming, Lord of Cumbernauld, a hostage for King James I. in place of Andrew Gray 9 November 1427, and released 20 June 1432. He was likely of age, or near, at this point and thus must have been born about 1405, therefore dating his parents marriage. He died vita patris (before his father) without issue.
* [[Fleming-334|Robert Fleming]], who will inherit from him.
* Margaret Fleming, who married Patrick Gray, Master of Gray, as appears from an obligation for her portion of 600 merks, dated 7 February 1440. They had no issue.
===References===
== Sources ==
* Source S-1 }
* Source S-2 }
==Acknowledgements==This person was created through the import of Jim Walker gedcom 4 Wikitree may 22 2011.ged on 24 May 2011. The following data was included in the gedcom. You may wish to edit it for readability.
WikiTree profile Fleming-751 created through the import of MOORMAN FAMILY.GED on May 31, 2011 by [[Stewart-2795 | Mary Elizabeth Stewart]]. See the [http://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Special:NetworkFeed&who=Fleming-751 Changes page] for the details of edits by Mary Elizabeth and others.
Thanks to [[Newberry-253 | Michael Newberry]] for starting this profile.
Events
| Birth | 1383 | Biggar, Cumbernauld, Lanark, Scotland | |||
| Marriage | 1405 | Lady Elizabeth Stuart | |||
| Death | 24 Nov 1440 | Edinburgh, Scotland | |||
| Reference No | 1005946 | ||||
| Reference No | 1027267 | ||||
| Reference No | 60 |
Families
| Spouse | Lady Elizabeth Stuart (1385 - 1446) |
| Father | Sir David Fleming (1325 - 1406) |
| Mother | Isabel Strathechin (1347 - 1383) |
| Sibling | David Fleming (1390 - ) |