[1] In 1378, Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie, a nephew of Archibald Douglas, took Berwick by surprise with 50 men, and was immediately besieged by the town's governor Thomas de Musgrave.

Douglas and Lord Lyndsay of the Byres assembled a relief army at Haddington, little more than 500 in number, but marched anyway, hoping to collect more men on the way.

[2] When Archibald's army approached Berwick, his scouts informed him that the English army around the castle numbered around 10,000, with archers, siege engines, heavy horse and ships blockading the river.

During the ensuing Battle of Melrose, Musgrave was unhorsed and forced to yield for ransom.

With Musgrave and other leaders captured, the remaining English not already slain fled back to Berwick with news of their defeat.