322 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



have been preserved so long without the aid of man. 

 The kings of Scotland, no doubt, protected this royal 

 game, and, in connexion with the lords of Cumbernauld, 

 kept up for a long time the breed in a state compara- 

 tively free. 



The history of Cumbernauld, its castle, its forest, and 

 its wild cattle, is closely associated with the history of 

 Scotland ;* they anciently belonged to the great but 

 unpopular family of Comyn. When the head of that 

 house, John, the Red Comyn, fell wounded by the dagger 

 of Bruce in a sudden quarrel at the steps of the altar 

 in the Church of the Minorite Friars at Dumfries, on the 

 10th of February, 1306, Kirkpatrick, it is well known, 

 went in and despatched the victim with the well-known 

 words "I make siccar" (surer). It was reserved, how- 

 ever, to Sir Robert Fleming, another distinguished chief 

 and adherent of the Bruce, to decapitate the Comyn, 

 and to exhibit the head with the exclamation, " Let the 

 deed shaw."f For this and other exploits King Robert 

 transferred to Sir Robert the barony of Leny, which had 

 belonged to the Comyns ; and from this time Cumber- 

 nauld Castle became the residence of the Flemings, or 

 Fleemings, as their name is variously written. In 

 course of time Sir Robert Fleming, a member of the 

 family, was created a peer by the title of Lord Fleming ; 

 and in 1606, John, sixth Lord Fleming, was created 

 Earl of Wigton, a title which ended with Charles, 

 seventh earl, who died unmarried February 10th, 1747. 

 By the marriage of his niece, the Lady Clementina 



* For much assistance with regard to Cumbernauld, I am indebted to 

 the Rev. Dr. T. 0. Waddell, of that place. 



t These two expressions have ever since been the several mottoes of 

 the houses of Kirkpatrick and Fleming. 



