Flemming states, [1]
Alexander, his [John Elphinston's] son, who succeeded him [John Elphinston] about 1509, was a great favourite of James IV., who created him Baron Elphinston, erected his various lands into a Barony, and appointed him a Privy Councillor and Keeper of Stirling Castle, besides being officially attached to the Court. So highly favoured was he that the King procured his marriage with Elizabeth Barlow, an English lady, the favourite maid of honour of his consort, Margaret Tudor; and on 12th August, 1513, at Twisselhaugh, (a memorable date and place on account of the execution of numerous charters and grants in fulfilment of prior obligations) the King, evidently having a presentiment of his death, grants to him and his English spouse the lands of Kildrummy in Aberdeenshire--the consideration being naively expressed that his "consort's Maid of Honor, Elizabeth Barley, as a foreigner whom we had desired Lord Elphinston to wed, and for his good and faithful gratuitous services, and in contemplation of her dowry made to her, being beyond her native land in the service of our consort, and on account of his predecessor's (John's) death at Piperdane" in the King's ancestors' service. Alexander was killed with his royal master at Flodden, on the fifth of the following month. In stature and appearance he is described as having resembled the King, and he agreed, previous to the battle, for the safety of James, whose bravery in exposing himself was feared would mark him out for English weapons, to personate him and take this risk. He was accordingly clothed in similar armour, and acted so perfectly that he imposed on, and was actually followed and defended by the chief of the Scottish nobility. Similarly, after the battle, his body was mistaken by the English for that of the King.
By his marriage to Elizabeth Barlow he had two sons, Alexander and James, and three daughters, one of whom, Mary, died in Stirling. Alexander who was only two years of age at his father's death, succeeded to the estates, and was entered on a precept issued by James V. (who had been newly crowned at Stirling) to John Craigengelt, Sheriff of Stirling, and James Spetaile of Blairlogie, Alexander's attorney, dated 8th November, 1513, on payment of 140 merks of relief duty. This charge is inconsistent with the Act at Twisselhaugh exempting heirs of slain soldiers from relief duty. The lands are described as the Lands and Barony of Elphinston, with Tower and Fortalice of Elphinston annexed thereto, which included the extensive and widely-separated lands of Pendreich, Craigrosse, Quarrol, Craigforth, Gargunnock, Carnock, and Playne. The Kildrummy estate, of course, remained vested in the widow as the King's dowry.
[1] J. S. Fleming, Ancient Castles and Mansions of Stirling Nobility (Paisley: Alexander Gardner, 1902), 185-187, [HathiTrust].