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On March 30, 1296, Edward I swiftly overran Berwick-upon-Tweed, easily brushing aside the town’s defenses. Berwick, a major port and one of Scotland’s largest towns, boasted a prosperous merchant class enriched by trade. The English army methodically sacked the town, slaughtering thousands of merchants and citizens. To spare further loss of life, Sir William Douglas surrendered Berwick Castle.

On the 23rd of April Edward despatched John de Warenne with a mounted contingent to secure Dunbar Castle. Near the castle at Spottismuir, de Warenne was confronted by King John’s army. During the crossing of the Spott Burn the Scots for a few minutes lost sight of their opponent and assumed the English were about to flee. They hastily charged and were confronted by the soaking wet, but perfectly re-ordered English ranks. De Warenne army drove the Scots back killing hundreds of foot soldiers.