Sir Alexander de Gordon

Sir Alexander de Gordon was from Haddoe in Aberdeenshire Scotland. He was a squire to his father William and became a Knight Errant in 1352.

By the end of 1357 King David II was back on the Scottish throne and Sir Alex was a prominent member of the court. However the Treaty of Berwick was still a matter of contention for some Scots and the King was aware of how much he needed to know what was going on with Edward III. To this end he had acquired the ear of several English knights and they visited on occasion to pass on any information.

Sir Alexander, his Father and his recently widowed sister, Alice, were visiting the court when one of these knights, Sir Henry Williamson, arrived. Aware of just how much he was despised by the Scots and how precarious his position would be should his peers discover where he disappeared to and why, he was determined to get as much as possible out of his spying. On finally gaining his audience with the King and his closest advisers, which included Sir Alex’s father William, he made clear his demands for payment of information; which included the hand of William’s daughter Alice. This part of the bargain was argued heatedly, William had already promised her over to another and was not prepared to have her married to and Englishman whose loyalties for either King could not be counted upon. Sir Henry finally came to an agreement and gave up his information, which was not particularly valuable or new. His request had not made Sir Henry popular and realising the danger he had put himself in explained he would be leaving very early in the morning. And leave he did, but only after having kidnapped Alice de Gordon.

Once the kidnapping had been discovered Sir Alexander demanded the right to follow Sir Henry and gain retribution for her kidnap and any other indignities she may have endured. King David agreed to his departure but insisted he must report back or send word regularly as information from him could be relied upon.

Not long after crossing the border he joined up with Sir John of Lancaster, and, playing down his strong feelings for fear of causing further strain on the Treaty, explained he was on a quest to find his missing sister at his father’s request. To further cover his tracks he brought with him a small entourage including his own armourer, Hamish McGregor, a highly skilled craftsman. By having such a craftsman in his camp Sir Alex was able to make joining the group easier, as any armourer was a highly desirable asset to all knights, let alone someone as skilled as Hamish. There no information on whether he found his sister of not but the longer they travelled together the easier the alliance between Sir Alexander and Sir John became.