• General Notes

  Sir Roger KIRKPATRICK, ,"I Mak Sikkar",Justicair,of Closeburne
  
  Constant companion and cousin of Robert the Bruce, and cousin of William Wallace
  
  In 1305 Red Comyn(a puppet of the English King) began planning his coronation. He could not unite the Scottish nobles without Robert the Bruce,so a meeting was arranged between he and Bruce for Thursday, 10th February, 1306 .A neutral place was chosen ,Greyfriars Kirk (Dumfrieshire). Roger Kirkpatrick,Chistopher Seton, and a few others formed Bruce's entourage .Most were in black mood because of Comyn's treachery. During the meeting ,Bruce, in a rage, stabbed the Comyn. On meeting him outside Roger asked "who's blood sire?" Bruce's reply was " I doubt I have slain the Comyn!".On this Kirkpatrick replied "I Mak Sikkar"-I'll Make Sure,entered the church and finished the Comyn off.When he re-emerged from the church he reputedly held aloft his blood soaked dagger Tradition states this is where the Closeburn Kirkpatrick motto originated. (Tradition also relates Kirkpatrick and Bruce were chased three nights by Comyn's followers but were never caught. Less than seven weeks after the killing in Dumfries, Bruce was crowned King of Scotland; he then granted his own arms to Kirkpatrick. Upon the escutcheon he also placed three pillows to denote the three nights they slept in the woods while fleeing. "I Mak Sikkar"remains the family motto.)
  
  Motto:The earlier crest of the house was a thistle , and "Touch And I Pierce" was used by Sir Roger Kirkpatrick during the Wallace Campaigns.
  
  After the Battle of Bannockburn,Sir Roger was despatched by Robert the Bruce as one of four Commissioners to approach Edward II in person,to treat for peace.
  
  On 12th December, A.D. 1322, Sir Roger, asked King Edward II for "a safe conduct and protection within the realm of England, for himself and his wife, also for Humfrey Kirkpatrick and his wife Idonia." Seven weeks later the King of England ordered "instant enquiry to be made by the good men of Cumberland and Westmoreland as to the abduction of Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick, Knight of Scotland, who had fled to England to save his life from evil doers." This order is dated from Yorkshire, and seven months later another is dated from Berwick-on-Tweed to the same effect. Nothing more is known of his fate; probably he was secretly murdered, and the vendetta of the Comyns completed.
  (Research):King Robert Bruce had made a vow to go to the Holy Land, to expiate the death of Comyn. Upon his death-bed he regretted exceedingly having, by the contests in which was incessantly in support of his throne, been prevented from fulfilling his vow, and desired that his heart might be taken to Jerusalem. Douglas, with the heart suspended from his neck in a silver casket, accompanied by a son of Sir Roger Kirkpatrick and other knights, undertook the Commission. 

Details of I Mak Sikker's family