The Arms of Sir David le Fleming, Bt
Noel Cox
first published (Summer 2002) 81 New Zealand Armorist 10-11
Sir David Kelland le Fleming, 13th baronet le Fleming, of Rydal, Westmorland, in the baronetage of England, was born 12 January 1976, and succeeded his father, Sir Quintin, in 1995. Sir Quintin, who died accidently, lived at 147 Stanford Street, Ashhurst, Manawatu.
In the Visitations of Westmorland, 1665, the pedigree of the Flemings of Rydal begins with the twelfth century with Sir Michael Flameng, Flandrensis, or Furnes (the last name was derived from property owned by the family for many generations at Furness in Lancashire). From him the heraldic visitation pedigree deduced descent generation by generation to Sir Thomas Fleming, who married Isabel, co-heiress to Sir John Lancaster, by whom the Lordship of Rydal, came to the family in the time of King Henry IV.
The baronetcy was created in 1705. The first baronet was member of Parliament for Westmorland 1696-1707, and the second was Bishop of Carlisle 1734-47.
The armorial bearings of the le Flemings are Gules a fret Argent. The fret is derived from the earlier coats of arms, the whole field of which was covered by an interlacing of alternate bendlets and bendlets sinister. John and Thomas Fleming, of Westmorland, ancestors of the le Flemings, bore, in the time of King Edward III, Gules fretty Argent, a lebel Vert.
The crest is a serpent nowed, holding in his mouth a garland of olive and vine, all Proper. A serpent nowed is the most frequently form of serpent found, is interlaced in a knot.
The motto is Pax, copia, sapientia. This may be freely translated as "peace, plenty, wisdom". There are no supporters.