King Edward had positioned his army on Halidon Hill overlooking Berwick which he had under siege. He choose the location because it allowed him to look out for the Scots who may try and relieve the Scottish who were besieged with the town. A Scottish force tried to get to Berwick put were defeated by Edward's army. King Edward III's attacks on Scotland and victory at Halidon Hill put Edward Balliol back on the Scottish throne for four more years. Robert (II), the future King of the Scots, was one of the Scottish commanders at the battle of Halidon Hill. ¹

Kipchak Mongols besieging a Genoese trading centre on the Crimean coast catapulted their own dead into the city. The cause of death was a mysterious disease. The Genoese escaped by sea taking the 'Black Death' with them. They landed at Messina in Sicily. Black Death or Bubonic plague was spread by the rat flea. The name Black Death came from the colour of the swelling in the groin, armpit or neck. The person suffering went into a coma and dies soon after. In Europe an estimated 25 million people died. The plague reached Britain in 1348 and again in 1360 and the population may have been reduced by a half. ¹

In Scotland, the Stewart dynasty was begun when Robert II took the Scottish throne after the death of David II. ¹

Robert II is crowned King of Scotland at Scone Abbey.

The Battle of Otterburn took place some thirty miles north west of Newcastle upon Tyne where the tributary called the Otter Burn joins the River Rede. The Scots led by the Earl of Douglas had sent two armies into northern England and had agreed to meet near Newcastle.The Earl of Northumberland, now too old to take part in any fighting, sent his sons Henry Percy, known as Harry Hotspur, and Ralph Percy to deal with the invasion. When the armies met, Douglas and Hotspur agreed to single hand-to-hand combat, Hotspur lost this fight and attacked the Scots at their encampment. Although the Scots were initially surprised by the attack the English were defeated and both of the Percy brothers were captured. The Earl of Douglas was killed in the battle.

Robert II, King of the Scots died at the age of seventy-four and was succeeded by Robert III who ruled from 1390 to 1406. Robert II was buried at Scone Abbey. ¹