[3] According to Jean Froissart's Chronicles, the Earl of Sutherland attended the meeting of Scottish nobles and their followers at Southdean in the Forest of Jedburgh and which resulted in the Battle of Otterburn in 1388.

The Scots intended to take advantage of disputes between the English king and his nobles by making a raid into England on a large scale, partly in retaliation for the English invasion of Richard II of England that had taken place three years before.

On their return the Battle of Otterburn was fought where Douglas was slain, but the Scots defeated the English.

[4] However, William Fraser stated that this was an "imaginary" Robert, Earl of Sutherland who Gordon had written about.

Angus Du Mackay of Strathnaver was also killed but his lands were retained by his sons Neil and John.