Originally written for private distribution in 1954,this account of the Closeburn Kirkpatricks was, theauthor says,"a story that needed to be told."The Kirkpatricks of Closeburn, in Dumfries-shire,Scotland, trace their family back to Ivone, whowitnessed a Charter for Robert Brus (or Bruce), firstLord of Annandale.Roger 'mak siccar ' Kirkpatrickwas a close associate of the later Robert Bruce, whobecame King of Scotland.The family's connections extend through the Isle of Wight to France and Spain.