BEDDGELERT TO IIARLECH. 9 



Tangno, lord of Eivonedd and Ardudwy, and one of 

 the fifteen tribes of North Wales, who repaired the 

 ancient caflle, and took it for. his own refidence *. 

 - — The prefent name of Harlech is probably derived 

 from the Britifh words hardd, beautiful^ and llechj 

 a rocky indicating its fituation. 



According to fome of the ancient Britifh hifr 

 torians, Harlech caflle was originally built, about 

 the year 350, by Maelgwn Gwynedd, prince of 

 North Wales ; and it is generally believed that 

 Edward I. founded the prefent fortrefs on the ruins 

 of the old caftle ; fome parts of which are yet 

 diflinguifliable from the more modern work of that 

 monarch. 



The firfl conflable, appointed in 1283 ^7 Edward, 

 was allowed a fixiary of a hundred pounds per annum. 

 This falary appears to have been afterwards reduced, 

 for even when the fame perfon held the double 

 office of conflable of the caflle and captain of the 

 town, he ufually received only fifty pounds per 

 annum ; and when he had not the captainfhip of the 

 town, he was paid but twenty-fix pounds, thirteen 

 {hillings, and four-pence. Even fo lately as in the 

 forty-fourth year of Elizabeth, the conflable received 

 but fifty pounds per annum. The garrifon confifled 

 of twenty-four foldiers \. 



* It is fometlmes, though improperly, called, Caer Colun. 

 See Camb. Reg. i. 148. 



t Cotton MSS. in the Britifh Mufeum ; VllelUus, C. i. 



In 



