Gordon preached often at court and, among the "pulpit-occurrents" of 28 April 1605, it is mentioned that "Deane Gordon, preaching before the kinge, is come so farre about in matter of ceremonies, the out of Ezechiell and other places of the prophets, and by certain hebrue characters, and other cabalisticall collections, he hath founde out and approved the vse of the crosse cap surplis et ct." During James' visit to Oxford in 1605 he was created a Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) on 13 August "because he was to dispute before the king his kinsman." He is described as of Balliol College. His second wife Genevieve Petau de Maulette taught French to Princess Elizabeth (1596–1662), afterwards queen of Bohemia. In 1611 the barony of Glenluce, which had belonged to his brother Lawrence, was bestowed on him by royal charter.