Person Page 280

Sir Robert ("the Rebel") Fleming, of Cumbernauld, 1st Lord Fleming

Person Exhibits

Arms of the Fleming Earls of Wigtown

Birth

Parents

Family life

Titles

Working life

• On 1 July 1454 Sir Robert ("the Rebel") Fleming, of Cumbernauld, 1st Lord Fleming, was occupied as Master of the King's Household and an auditor of accounts in Exchequer.^3,7
• He entered into a bond of manrent with Gilbert, Lord Kennedy, and Sir Alexander Boyd, Knight, whereby they agreed to stand by each other in mutual defence for all the days of their life, against all men, excepting their allegiance to the King on 10 February 1466. On 10th February 1465-6 these three nobles, who might have else been a check on each other, entered into a coalition by a yet extant indenture 3 to stand by one another in all causes and quarrels. The parties to this bond each enumerate certain persons — including some of the principal magnates in Scotland — with whom they had already entered into similar indentures ; Fleming becomes bound not to remove the King out of the keeping of Kennedy and Boyd, and, as a quid pro quo, he is to have such wards, reliefs, and marriages as should fall to the Crown in preference to, and on more reasonable terms than, any one else. - RSRS
  Hunter -
  IT was a very common thing for the nobility in former days to enter into a bond or league with each other for mutual defence, or the attainment of some object. The main plea in justification of this step was the defective administration of the laws. The executive department of government was often powerless ; and the consequence was, that the strong oppressed the weak, and rapine, slaughter, and confusion prevailed. In this state of things it was the policy of the nobles to bind as many powerful men to their interest as possible, so that they might be better able to revenge a wrong, to protect themselves from assault, and make a formidable appearance on the battle field. On the 10th of February 1465, Robert Lord Fleming entered into a remarkable bond, or " Indenture," as it was called, with Gilbert Lord Kennedy, and Sir Alexander Boyd of Duchal. The object of it is thus stated : " Ye said lordis ar bundyn and oblisit yaimselfis, yair kin, friendis and men, to stand in afald kendness, supple, and defence, ilk an til odir in all yair causis and querrells, leiful and honest, movit and to be movit, for all ye dais of yair liffis, in contrery and aganis al maner of personnes yat leiff or dee may." Reservation was made with respect to the " bands " which these barons had previously made with other parties ; and from this it appears that Lord Fleming had bands with Lord Livingstone and Lord Hamilton. The document goes on to bind Lord Fleming not to give his consent or assent to any proposal to take the King from Lord Kennedy and Sir Alexander Boyd, or the persons whom they might appoint his keepers in their absence ; and to use all his power of good counsel to prevail on the King to be kind to them, "yair bairnis, and friendis yaiat belong te yaim for ye tim." If he did this, he was to have such reward as follows : " Gif yair happynis a large thyng to fall, sic as vard, releiff, marriage, or offis, yat is meit for hym, the said Lord Flemyng sail haff it for a resonable compocicion befoir undir." It appears that two individuals, " Thorn of Summerwel " and "Wat of "Twedy," were special friends of Lord Fleming ; and therefore Lord Kennedy and Sir Alexander were bound to have them in special maintenance, supply, and defence in all their actions, causes, and quarrels, lawful and honest, for Lord Fleming's sake, and for services done, or to be done. The document ends with this solemn sanction : "All and sundry thingis aboven writtyn sal be lelily keipit bot fraud and gil, after ye partis giffyn till udiris yair bodily aithis, the hah euangelist tuychit, and set to thair sealis." One of the results of this engagement was that the principal parties who had entered into it, seized the King as he sat in his Exchequer Court at Linlithgow, and forcibly conveyed him to Edinburgh. Lord Fleming did not publicly appear as an actor in this treasonable proceeding, but there can be little doubt that he gave it bis concurrence and approval. The gentlemen concerned, by this means got the King entirely into their power.
  
  - This cannot possibly be correct. Gilbert Lord Kennedy was his sworn enemy and they were in the midst of a protracted legal battle. Wiki James III agrees -^3,8,9,10,11
• He served in the military as led a group of lords who seized the King's person at Linlithgow, away from Gilbert lord Kennedy on 10 July 1466 in Linlithgow. Wiki - In July 1466, James III was seized while hunting at Linlithgow Palace by a large armed group led by Robert, Lord Boyd and his son, Thomas, and was taken to Edinburgh Castle as the Boyds and their supporters mounted a coup to seize control of the government by gaining possession of the king during his minority.[9] Gilbert Kennedy was then imprisoned in Stirling Castle for a period.
  The 14-year-old king was forced to declare before Parliament in October that he had not been offended by being taken from Linlithgow, and that it was his intention to appoint Lord Boyd as his governor, to serve until his twenty-first year.[9] The Boyd faction made itself unpopular, especially with the king, through self-aggrandizement such as the creation of Lord Boyd's son, Thomas, as earl of Arran, and Arran's marriage to the king's 13-year-old sister, Mary in 1467, which antagonised the king and considerable sections of the three estates.[10]
  
  JMF -
  If Fleming led the lords who seized the king, he was in the faction of Alan lord Cathcart, Boyd, Crawford, Hamilton, Livingstone and Montgomery. This would be consistent with the bond of manrent of 10 Feb 1466; except that Gilbert lord Kennedy had breached it.
  
  Another book says that Gilbert Lord Kennedy was on Fleming and Boyd's side.???^12,13
• On 11 October 1466 Sir Robert ("the Rebel") Fleming, of Cumbernauld, 1st Lord Fleming, was occupied as bailiary, an office renounced by Andrew Turing, procurator to Ronald Cheyne of Straloch in Monycabock (later Newmachar), Aberdeenshire.¹⁴
• On 17 March 1473 Sir Robert ("the Rebel") Fleming, of Cumbernauld, 1st Lord Fleming, was occupied as one of the Lords of Council.¹⁵
• In 1484 Sir Robert ("the Rebel") Fleming, of Cumbernauld, 1st Lord Fleming, was occupied as was one of the ambassadors sent to France to revieve a ratification of the ancient league with Scotland in France.¹⁶
• He served in the military as served as hostage, along with Lord Seton, for the appearance of Sir Andrew Wood to give evidence to the rebel lords after 11 June 1488 in Leith.¹⁷

Property^3,18

Sir Robert ("the Rebel") Fleming, of Cumbernauld, 1st Lord Fleming, possessed reverted to the king upon his father's death in 1441 in Monycabock (later Newmachar), Aberdeenshire.¹⁹ He possessed recieved from King James II, on attaining minority, being convinced of the injustice of the sentence against his father, precepts for serving Sir Robert as heir of his father who was found by the inquest to have died at the faith and peace of his sovereign on 1 January 1442.^3,20,21 He possessed remained in the king's hands in 1443 in Monycabock (later Newmachar), Aberdeenshire.²² He possessed was granted a charter of special service as heir to his father in the barony and lordship of Lenzie in January 1444 in Lenzie.^23,24,25 He possessed granted a sasine of the lands of Fruid to William Fraser in 1445 in Fruid, Peebleshire.²⁶ He possessed Overlord to the late Thomas Maule of Panmure, knight (his half first cousin) in 1445 in Panmure.²⁷ He possessed had sasine in 1445 in Oliver Castle.²⁸ He possessed recieved a precept investing him in the lands of Biggar and patronage of the church and hospital which had been resigned by David, Lord Hay of Yester on 31 May 1446 in Biggar.³ He possessed had his town of Biggar erected into a free burgh of barony, with a weekly market on Thursdays on 31 March 1451.^3,29 He possessed had charters under the Great Seal of these lands on the resignation of Patrick Lyon, Lord Glamis on 6 June 1451 in Petkeny and Culvenny and Balrody in the barony of Kinghorn.^3,30,4,5 He possessed had a charter in this land on the resignation of Alexander Lyon, son of Patrick, Lord Glamis on 7 June 1451 in Auchtermony in the earldom of Lennox.^3,30,5 He possessed resigned land then granted to Patrick Lyon, Lord Glamis on 7 June 1451.³⁰ He possessed confirmed a charter by William of Panton Lord of Petmidden on 20 July 1454 in Tillymaud in the barony of Monycabock.³¹ He possessed was mentioned as owner in the Scottish Accounts between 1455 and 1456 in Kerse.³²³³ He possessed granted to Gilbert Lord Kennedy a charter of the barony of Thankerton to be held of Lord Fleming and his successors on 10 February 1465 in Barony of Thankerton.^3435,36 He possessed lost the case about Easter and Wester Mains and Shervy and Bar and Badcol and Wester Gartshore on 15 April 1466 in Easter and Wester Mains and Shervy and Bar and Badcol and Wester Gartshore.³⁷³ He possessed he had a charter from King James III of the lands of Biggar and patronage of the church of Biggar and hospital thereof, which David Hay of Yester had resigned, in excambion for his lands of Olivercastle and others, in the sheriffdom of Peebles on 20 June 1470.^3,3839,40 He possessed granted a charter in Oliver Castle, Over Kingledoors, Frude, Polmude, Coqueland and Glenquotho to John Hay of Yester as son and heir of Sir David Hay of Yester in exchange for Sir David Hay's lands in the barony of Biggar and patronage of the Biggar church and hospital on 12 July 1470 in Oliver Castle.^41,38 He possessed was served heir special to his father in the lands of Biggar on 22 February 1473 in Biggar.^3,42 He possessed was ordered by Parliament to restore 10 oxen and 2 bulls to Henry Livingstone of Middlebinning and to pay his expenses of 15 shillings on 30 July 1473 in Welton and Castlecary.^43,1644 He possessed recieved 40/-/- from Kerse in 1475 in Kerse.⁴⁵ He possessed was held accountable by Parliament for a debt of 26 merks owed by his son Robert to Patrick Baron, burgess of Edinburgh on 12 June 1478 in Edinburgh.^46,47 He possessed seized goods belonging to his son as security for the payment of a debt that he owed to his father in June 1479 in Lenzie.⁴⁸ He possessed resigned all his lands to King James III on 19 September 1480.^{49503493,51,52,53} He possessed recieved Easter Tollart as a gift from the king after January 1488 in Easter Tollart.^543,4,4755 He possessed resigned Easter Tollart into the king's hands who, in 1498, gave an income of 40 solids from this land to Archibald earl of Argyll before 1491 in Easter Tollart.^56357,5859

Death

Citations

1. [S29] Various, Various, "WikiTree," pedigree, Commons, WikiTree (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki: accessed ), ., online; 6 November 2023; Robert (Fleming) Fleming First Lord Fleming (abt. 1410 - 1491) at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fleming-334.
2. [S2] Various contributors, Various contributors, "Wikipaedia," database, Commons, Wikipaedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/: accessed ), ., viewed; 24 April 2025; James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Douglas,_7th_Earl_of_Douglas
3. [S28] Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage, vol viii, Fleming Earl of Wigtown pages 519 - 558
4. [S83] George Vere Irving, The upper ward of Lanarkshire described and delineated, vol i, p 312
5. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 489
6. [S21] George Crawford, The Peerage of Scotland, p 491-499, Fleming, Earl of Wigtown
7. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 5, p 609
8. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charter 33
9. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 7, p lviii
10. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 491
11. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 21 September 2025; RH1/2/255 and RH1/2/256, 10 Feb 1465/1466, Indenture between Robert, Lord Flemyng, on the one part, and Gilbert, Lord Kennedy and Sir Alexander Boid of Drumcol, Knight, on the other part
12. [S25] William M Metcalfe, A History of the County of Renfrew, p 92
13. [S2] Various contributors, Various contributors, "Wikipaedia," database, Commons, Wikipaedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/: accessed ), ., James III of Scotland, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_III_of_Scotland
14. [S68] KM Brown and others, Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, 1466/15
15. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 22 September 2025; GD172/146, 17/3/1473, Ratification by James III of decreet of lords of council
16. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 492
17. [S84] John Pinkerton, The History of Scotland, vol ii, p 3
18. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charter 248
19. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 5, p 95
20. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charter 26
21. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 490
22. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 5, p 135
23. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charters 27-28
24. [S83] George Vere Irving, The upper ward of Lanarkshire described and delineated, vol i, p 311
25. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 19 September 2025; RH1/2/222, 3 Mar 1443/1444, Sasine in favour of Sir Robert Fleming of Bygar, Barony of Lenze, following on Brieve from Chancery
26. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 503
27. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 5, p 200
28. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 9, p 659
29. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol ii, 1424-1513, ch 439, p 99
30. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol ii, 1424-1513, ch 449-451, p100
31. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 21 September 2025; GD52/1669, 20/7/1454, Charter of confirmation of No.1668 by Robert, Lord Flemyne [Fleming]
32. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 6, p99 and 164
33. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 21 September 2025; RH1/2/249, 15 Feb 1461/1462, Instrument under hand of notary public as to infeftment of Malcolm Flemyng, son and apparent heir of Robert, Lord Fleming, in the 40 merklands of Kyrkintullach
34. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 11 September 2025; GGD25/1/100 and GD25/1/101 and GD25/1/105, 10 Feb 1465, Charter by Robert Lord Fleming to Gilbert Lord Kennedy and his heirs of the Barony of Thankerton
35. [S104] John Stuart, Registrum de Panmure, vol ii, p 241
36. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 21 September 2025; GD45/27/50, 16 May 1465, Instrument of sasine in favour of Malcolm Flemyng, son of Robert, Lord Flemyng, and Euphemia, his spouse, of an annualrent from the Lordship of Panmur
37. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 11 September 2025; GD25/1/102, 15 Apr Feb 1466, Decree, Gilbert Lord Kennedy against Robert Lord Fleming
38. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol ii, 1424-1513, ch 995, p 206
39. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol ii, 1424-1513, ch 994, p 206
40. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol v, ch 2081, p 708
41. [S28] Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage, Hay, John of Yester p429
42. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 9, p 675
43. [S68] KM Brown and others, Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, 1473/7/32
44. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 22 September 2025; B66/25/37, 13 Nov 1473, Charter by Malcolm Flemyng, son and heir apparent of Robert, lord Flemyng
45. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 9, p 676
46. [S68] KM Brown and others, Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, 1478/6/66
47. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 493
48. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charters 45-46
49. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charters 48 - 52
50. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol ii, 1424-1513, ch 1452, p 302
51. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol ii, 1424-1513, ch 1453, p 302
52. [S83] George Vere Irving, The upper ward of Lanarkshire described and delineated, vol i, p 478
53. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 494
54. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 10, p 48 and 179
55. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 22 September 2025; GD25/1/154, 3 Mar 1489, Instrument bearing that John Lord Kennedy compeared before James Lord Hamilton Sheriff of the County of Lanark
56. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol ii, 1424-1513, ch 2403, p 511
57. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 11, p 342*
58. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 11, p 344*
59. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charter 55
60. [S27] Various genealogists, Various genealogists, "World Family Tree," pedigree, MyHeritage Ltd, Geni (https://www.geni.com/: accessed ), ., online; 6 November 2023; Robert (Fleming) Fleming First Lord Fleming (abt. 1410 - 1491) at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fleming-334
61. [S83] George Vere Irving, The upper ward of Lanarkshire described and delineated, vol i, p 313
62. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 605