The Wars of Scottish Independence began in 1296 when Edward I of England attempted to enforce his claims to the overlordship of Scotland.

This conflict was ended in 1328 by the Treaty of Edinburgh negotiated by a regency government during the minority of Edward III of England, following several victories by King Robert Bruce of Scotland and those loyal to him.

[1] Like many English Edward III disliked this treaty and supported a group known as the Disinherited who held claims to lands and titles in Scotland which they were stripped of by the successes of the Bruce faction.

They were later joined by Douglas who had hired the services of Hugh Hampyle, a French pirate who commanded a group of five barges.

[3] Douglas had also recruited a force of Scots in exile at the court of Chateau Gaillard who were accompanied by several French knights with their retainers.

[9] Hampyle's best ship was captured, either while maintaining this blockade or possibly while attempting to storm the town, and he seems to have mounted a separate operation to recover it.

[12] Parallel to the siege of Perth, Douglas managed to convince William Bullock, Balliol's commander of Cupar Castle, to join the Bruce faction in return for an award of land and possessions.

[13] Short of supplies, Ughtred was compelled to surrender on 17 August, by which point the siege had lasted 10 weeks.

[12] In October a warrant was issued to pay the wages of 1,264 men from Cumberland and Westmorland, who under the command of Balliol and others were to raise the siege of Perth.

[8] After the capture of Perth and Cupar the Bruce faction besieged Stirling Castle, but quarrels between the nobles led to the departure of the earl of Ross.