On 1 May 1455, at the Battle of Arkinholm, near Langholm, Balvenie and his elder brothers, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray, and Ormond were trapped by forces loyal to the crown and were defeated. Moray was killed during the battle, Ormond was captured and executed soon after, but Balvenie escaped to England. For a time he took refuge there, along with the other surviving brother, James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas. Following the defeat at Arkinholm, in the summer of 1455, all Douglas titles were declared forfeit, and their land reverted to the crown, Balvenie was specifically cited as having helped his mother fortify the Douglas castle of Abercorn against the King. Balvenie, Douglas and their mother were outcast from Scottish society for their treasonable dealings with the English.