The Story of Macleods Table's

This story begins in 1536, with one of the Chiefs called Alasdair Crotach or Bent Alasdair (8th chief of the MacLeods'). As a prosperous Chief, he was well educated and lived in relative luxury in Dunvegan Castle

and Alasdair apparently, was once invited to the Royal Palace by King James V along with a company of English nobles and gentry. MacLeod showed great ease and grace and the company was quite surprised that a Highlander should act in such a civilised way.

As they could not believe that one could display such elegance and breeding, living in an 'uncouth' place such as Skye, Alasdair was treated with suspicion and ridicule by the other Nobles and Aristocrats. However, he would not rise to their taunts until, at dinner, one Nobleman turned to Alasdair and pointedly asked him, "'Have you ever seen in Skye halls so spacious as these, a roof so lofty, a table so ample and richly laden and candelabra so ornate as those around us here tonight, or have you in your native Skye a setting as magnificent as this one?"

MacLeod listened without a word until the Englishman continued "...Have you ever seen a candelabra as grand or as wonderful as the one above you?" to which MacLeod replied; "Yes my lord, we have on Skye a candelabra more marvellous by far than this one; we have a table much bigger and mor grand and we have a roof over our heads that is much larger that this hall of yours."

"Well, my friend," said the Lowlander "I do not believe you - indeed I will go all the way to Skye some day to prove for myself that you are giving me an untrue picture of your homeland."

MacLeod with unruffled dignity asked the Lowlander to make sure he would come to see for himself. Time passed but one day word came that a Lowland Earl was on his way to Skye to visit Alasdair Crotach at Dunvegan.

Alasdair prepared a big feast and got his servants to lay it out on top of Healabhal Mhor. (According to Otta F. Swire he took an english party - the man who had annoyed him and several other courtiers who had been present when they bet - to Healabhal Bheag).

As the Lowlander arrived he was taken to the mountain top where a copious spread awaited him and, in addition, many of the Clan MacLeod were present and holding bright flaming torches. Luckily, the stars shone brightly that night. Food and wine of every imaginable sort was there and as the MacLeod sat down beside his guest he sharply remarked;

"Truly, Sir, this is a roof grander than was ever made by human hands; this table, you must confess, is more commodious than any that can be shown, while those vassals of mine are more precious by far than any metallic contrivance, however costly or ornate it may beare than all the metallic grandeur you have in your Royal Court; while those faithful vassals of mine are ".

This suitably embarrassed the Nobleman, and the lowlander humbly begged for pardon and proceeded to the castle where he spent some more happy time with the genial MacLeod.