noon
before
The enthusiasm was so great that several bards composed special poems in honour of the king of Scotland , and next day the effusions were to be heard at the cross , and the prizes awarded . The first thing done , however , after the departure of the ship , was to send another mounted messenger to Dunvegan Castle , so that the lord of the island might learn that no invasion was to be feared from the fleet . The parchment proclamation was sent on to the chief , ostensibly in explanation of the ship 's visit , but probably because Malcolm was not loth to let the head of the clan know what the head of the country thought of his workmanship . It was early next morning that the reading and reciting of the poems began , and so lengthy were these effusions that it was well past noon before the last had been heard . To the chagrin of James he found himself fifteenth on the list when the honours were awarded . MacDonald , endeavouring to keep a straight face , told the king of the judges ' decision , adding , -- `` It will be as well not to let Davie Lyndsay know of this . '' `` Oh , you may tell whom you please , '' cried the king .