when john later repudiated "magna carta", and alexander took up arms against him, alan sided with the latter, and appears to have taken a considerable part in the subsequent conflict. in 1216, for instance, alan was identified as a rebel in arms by an english government memorandum, and the "chronicle of melrose" reports that gallovidians formed part of the scottish army that invaded northumberland in july 1217. furthermore, when the english ordered alexander to hand over custody of the castle of carlisle in september 1217, alan's name was also included in the correspondence directed at the scots.