THE STORY OF ROBERT THE BRUCE HELD A SPECIAL FASCINATION FOR PATON. HE WAS BORN IN DUMFERMLINE, A TOWN IN WHOSE ABBEY BRUCE WAS SUPPOSEDLY BURIED, AND HIS MOTHER CLAIMED DESCENT FROM HIM. THIS IS ONE OF THREE 'SKETCHES' DEPICTING EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF THE SCOTTISH WARRIOR THAT PATON EXHIBITED AT THE ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY IN 1850. THE OTHERS WERE BRUCE SLAYETH THE THREE MEN OF LORN IN THE RETREAT FROM DALRY AND THE BRUCE AND HIS ADHERENTS 'DREEING IN THE MOUNT THEIR PINE', AFTER HIS DEFEAT AT METHVEN.

ROBERT THE BRUCE LEFT THE ARMY OF KING EDWARD I, 'THE HAMMER OF THE SCOTS', IN ORDER TO LIBERATE SCOTLAND FROM ENGLISH OPPRESSORS. VICTORIES ALTERNATED WITH HEAVY LOSSES. A LEGEND DEVELOPED OF HOW ONE SLEEPLESS NIGHT BRUCE WATCHED A SPIDER COMPLETE THE WEAVING OF HIS WEB, DESPITE MANY FAILED ATTEMPTS. THIS STRENGTHENED HIS RESOLVE, AND THE FOLLOWING DAY HE WON A GREAT VICTORY AT THE BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN.

DR DEBRA MANCOFF HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE LITERARY SOURCE FOR THIS PAINTING IS SIR WALTER SCOTT'S TALES OF A GRANDFATHER (1828).