248 CAERNARVON CASTLE. various outlays upon its erection might have been returned on documents of a chfFerent nature to those we have con- sulted. For instance, the Sheriff of Anglesey might have accounted for the expense of operations at Beaumaris in documents which no longer exist. However, all we are now justified in doing in the absence of such documentary proof, is to consider the Castle of Beaumaris dating its foundation from the earliest record that relates to it. This will be, then, on the return made upon the Great Roll of the Pipe of the 29th of Edward I., where Wilham de Felton is spoken of as Constable, and Walter de Wynton as Clerk of the Works of the Castle in the 24tli and 25th years, so that it must have been commenced, as Walsingham states, in 1295 (23 Edward I.) In the two former years there is an allowance of 300/. for the works, and at the latter time a smaller sum to the official of the county for the same purpose. In the 27th of Edward I. the custody of this fortress was granted, during royal pleasure, to John de Havering, with the annual fee of 40/., and William de Felton was commanded to give up to his keeping all the armour, victuals, and stores. He, however, only retained the keeping for a year, as the king conferred upon him the more impor- tant office of Constableship of all the Castles in North Wales, excepting Beaumaris, and appointed him Justiciary of this portion of his dominions. A record bearing no date, but from internal evidence to be assigned to some year betwixt the 23rd and 29th of Edward I., sets forth a complaint of this same functionary to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, stating that the wardens of the works at Beaumaris had detained the money designed for the prosecution of those at Caernarvon to the value of 650 marcs, and he prays, therefore, that the money so assigned be not henceforth sent to Beaumaris. This may probably account for the representation made by Hugh de Leominster, that he could not expedite the buildings under his care through want of sufficient funds, which money might have been appropriated to the equally urgent wants of the workmen at Beaumaris. To return to the history of Caernarvon, it a]")]iears that Hugh de Leominster ceased to hold the office of Chamberlain in the 29th of Edward I. ; since a writ occurs on the Clause Roll of this year, authorising the Treasurer and Barons of
