Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming

He was the son and heir of John Fleming, 2nd Lord Fleming, who was killed in a feud with the Tweedie of Drumelzier family in 1524.

In November 1542, he was taken prisoner by the English at the Battle of Solway Moss, but released at a ransom of 1,000 marks, paid on 1 July 1548. During the Regency of the Earl of Arran he took messages from Mary of Guise to the English ambassador Ralph Sadler.[1] He was also happy to receive English messengers at his home at Cumbernauld Castle in 1544.[2]

Fleming's principal house was Boghall at Biggar, where he founded the collegiate church in 1545. The Tweedie family had already endowed a chaplain there in 1531 as part of the resolution of the feud.[3]

Malcolm married Janet Stewart, illegitimate daughter of King James IV of Scotland, after being granted a dispensation on 26 February 1524/5. Their children included:

• James Fleming, 4th Lord Fleming
• John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming
• Joanna Fleming, who first married John Livingston, Master of Livingston and eldest son of Alexander Livingston, 5th Lord Livingston, who was killed at the Battle of Pinkie along with her father. Sometime after 24 May 1560, she married John Sandilands of Calder, who died in May 1567, with whom she had issue. Before November 1567, she married for the third time to David Craufurd of Kerse.
• Janet Fleming, who married Richard Brown, Younger of Hartree, who died after 23 September 1536. Their son and heir apparent was Andrew Brown of Hartree
• Agnes Fleming (died before 18 October 1597), who married before 1 October 1553, William Livingstone, 6th Lord Livingston, and had issue
• Margaret Fleming (died before 15 Mar 1586/7), who married Robert Graham, Lord Graham, who died at the Battle of Pinkie, and had issue, William Graham, 2nd Earl of Montrose. Sometime after 30 Jan 1548/9, she married Thomas Erskine, Master of Erskine, a son of John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine. On 1 April 1557, she married for the third time to John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl.
• Mary Fleming, a Lady-in-Waiting to Mary Queen of Scots, who married Mary's secretary, William Maitland of Lethington. After his death, she married George Meldrum of Fyvie.
• Elizabeth Fleming (died after 1550), who married before 24 March 1540/1 William Crichton, 5th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, and had issue including Robert Crichton, 6th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar[4]

He also had illegitimate sons called John and William.[5]

He died on 10 September 1547, aged 53, being slain at the Battle of Pinkie. His will included £50 owed to him by Mary of Guise, and in it he wished to be buried in his new church and his father's remains to be taken there from Boghall. Cumbernauld Castle went to his eldest son, James Fleming. His wife was to have Boghall excepting its artillery.[5]

Notes

Sources

• The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant; first edition by George Edward Cokayne, Clarenceux King of Arms