[37]
The sports were then bespoken: he bade his men to send,
In eighteen days or sooner, to liegeman and to friend,
To say to all in Ireland, who would in his games be riding,
That, after summer was ended, they should spend the winter, with him abiding.
[38]
He bade his men make benches, so our tale doth run,
And for these, from out the wilderness, timber must be drawn;
For sixty thousand warriors seats must they make ready.
His henchmen and deft stewards, to do this work for the king, were skilled and speedy.