Image: Fleming tomb

Description: The tiered effigies of Sir Thomas Fleming and his wife Mary lie on their sides above their eight surviving children; he is in his official red robes and insignia, she is wearing a ruff and a hood. As Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Sir Thomas was most well known as a judge in the trial of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plotters in 1606. He also held other state offices including Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and Solicitor General for England and Wales. He died suddenly at his house at North Stoneham Park after a brief illness in 1613. Known locally by the affectionate title of the "Floating Flemings", the monument has a lengthy inscription extolling Sir Thomas' virtues as well as that of his wife, who bore him 15 children, of whom 6 sons and 2 daughters survived them. At the east end of the south aisle, on the south side, is the monument to Sir Thomas Fleming, Lord Chief Justice, who was one of the judges at the trial of Guy Fawkes in 1605 and died in 1613. This memorial[1][2] is known locally as "the floating Flemings",[3] depicting Lord and Lady Fleming in their scarlet and blue court robes, lying on their sides, with kneeling figures of the six sons and two daughters who survived him.[4] The inscription is in two panels on the base, and above the effigies are the arms of the Fleming and James families. The inscription reads:[5] In most Assvred Hope of A Blessed Resvrection, Here Lyeth Interred ye Bodie of Sir Thomas Flemyng, Knight, Lord Chief Jvstice of England; Great Was His Learning, Many Were His Virtves. He Always Feared God & God Still Blessed Him & ye Love & Favour Both of God & Man Was Daylie Upon Him. He Was In Especiall Grace & Favour With 2 Most Worthie & Virtvovs Princes Q. Elizabeth & King James. Many Offices and Dygnities Were Conferred Upon Him. He Was First Sargeant At Law, Then Recorder of London; Then Solicitor Generall to Both ye Said Princes. Then Lo: Chief Baron of ye Exchequer & after Lo: Chief Jvstice of England. All Which Places He Did Execvte With So Great Integrity, Justice & Discretion that Hys Lyfe Was Of All Good Men Desired, His Death Of All Lamented. He Was Borne at Newporte In ye Isle Of Wight, Brough Up In Learning & ye Studie Of ye Lawe. In ye 26 Yeare Of His Age He Was coopled in ye Blessed State of Matrimony To His Virtvovs Wife, ye La: Mary Fleming, With whom He Lived & Continewed In that Blessed Estate By ye Space Of 43 Yeares. Having By Her In that Tyme 15 Children, 8 Sonnes & 7 Davghters, Of Whom 2 Sonnes & 5 Davghters Died In His Life Time. And Afterwards In Ripeness of Age and Fulness of Happie yeares yt Is to Saie ye 7th Day of Avgvst 1613 in ye 69 Yeare Of His Age, He Left This Life For a Better, Leaving Also Behind Him Livinge Together With His Virtvovs Wife 6 Soones & 2 Davghters. There are many other memorials to members of the Fleming family including a monument to John Fleming (died 1802), and a portrait tablet to John Willis Fleming (died 1844) by the Chilworth sculptor, Richard Cockle Lucas.[3] Arms of Fleming of North Stoneham: Gules, a chevron between three owls argent an ermine spot for difference. Possibly same arms as on N side of presbytery screen in Winchester Cathedral[1] Fleming married on 13 February 1570 to his cousin, Mary James, the daughter of Dr Mark James, who was a personal physician of Queen Elizabeth I. They were married at St Thomas' Church, Newport, and lived at Carisbrooke Priory, the lease of which he purchased from the Secretary of State, Francis Walsingham. Arms of James (here impaled by Fleming): Gules a dolphin naiant embowed or (James of Denford, Bucks & Newport Isle of Wight (Heraldic Visit Hants 1634, quoted by Burke's General Armory 1884)), quartering Per fess sable and or a lion rampant gules.
Title: Fleming tomb
Credit: From www.geograph.org.uk
Author: Mike Searle
Permission: Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
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