A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 157 



After this monarch had fubdued the 

 Welm, he began to fecure his conquefls 

 by erecting feveral ftrong holds, in different 

 parts of Wales ; and it appearing that Caer- 

 narvonfhire, on account of its mountains 

 and morafles, was a county very likely to 

 encourage infurredlions, he determined to 

 guard as much as poffible againft fuch, by 

 erecting there the caflles of Conwy and 

 Caernarvon, two of the ftrongeft in the 

 whole principality.* 



He began this caftle in the beginning of 

 1283, and completed it within that year j for 

 on the 25th of April, in the year following, 

 his fon Edward, the firft Prince of Wales, 

 frequently afterwards ftiled from the event, 

 Edward of Caernarvon, was born here.-j- 

 Mr. Pennant, from the authority of manu- 



* Carte's Hiftory of England, II. 196. 



t Matt. Weft. 372. Speed fays, the prince was 

 born on St. Mark's day, 1285. See his Chronicle, II. 

 545- 



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