Sir Robert Fleming of Lenzie

Robert Fleming, one of the leading men of Scotland, to whom Edward I. wrote in 1290 about settling the succession of the crown upon the death of Margaret, and who proposed the marriage of the said Margaret, the Maid of Norway, to Prince Edward of England at Brigham on 12 March 1289-90. He afterwards swore fealty to Edward I., but soon repenting, he joined Robert Bruce in his efforts to secure the crown and restore the liberties of Scotland. He was with Bruce in the town of Dumfries on 10 February 1305-6, when, in the church of the convent of the Minorite Friars, he stabbed Sir John Comyn. Fleming then entered the church with Kirkpatrick and others and despatched the wounded man. Cutting off his head, it is said, and returning to Bruce, who inquired if Comyn were dead, he produced the same with the remark, ' Let the deid shaw,' which was thereafter borne by the family for their motto. As a reward for his services he received from the King a charter of the lands of Lenzie and Cumbernauld in Dumbartonshire which had been forfeited by John Comyn, Earl of Buchan. He died before 1314, leaving two sons:
1. Malcolm, his heir.
2. Sir Patrick of Biggar.
Source: "The Scots Peerage" Vol 8, page 520.

Baldwin’s descendants continued to hold Biggar until the twentieth century while their influence, power and wealth waxed and waned with the politics of the different reigns. Robert Fleming of Lenzie achieved international fame when, accompanying Robert the Bruce at the slaying of the Red Comyn, he severed the dead man’s head and offered it to Bruce with the recommendation “Let the deid shaw” (Let the deed show) ~ which thereafter became the motto of the Flemings. Bruce rewarded him with a grant of the lands of Cumbernauld in Dunbartonshire.

Links

• The barony of Biggar: from where the Flemings ruled