Tower of London, echoed by those in the Park. The bells of numerous churches chimed forth their merry peals, while many a banner was hoisted in the breeze; and among people of all degrees, an enthusiastic joy was felt, for the birth of Albert Edward Prince of Wales, in England's favoured time of peace and prosperity.

Such, my young readers, was the public feeling on occasion of the birth of our present Prince of Wales. I shall now relate to you some particulars concerning that of the first English Prince who bore this title. His name was Edward, and he was son of King Edward the First, whose Queen was Eleanor of Castile, a most amiable woman and devoted wife.

In former days, Wales did not belong to the English dominions, but was a principality in itself, governed by a Prince of its own; but Edward the First, not content with possessing all the English counties, wished to add Wales to his territories. Consequently a great many bloody battles were fought between the English

and Welsh; in the last of which, Llewellyn, then sovereign of Wales, was killed; and as he left no heir, Edward determined to seize the principality for himself. Boldly coming forward, he at once offered to reign over the Welsh, as he did over the English, promising to watch over the honour and safety of both, with equal care. The people, however, who had brave and loyal hearts, firmly declared that they would never submit to a Prince who was not of their own nation. This resolve at first greatly disconcerted Edward; but soon he thought of a plan, which, if successful, would both satisfy them, and put him in possession of their lands; so he told them that he trusted their wish might speedily be granted; and with this vague promise they seemed for the time

content.

Now it happened that Queen Eleanor was about to add to her family, and the King determined that the expected infant should be born in Wales. He told his purpose to the Queen; and although it was then early spring,

and the season very cold, she cheerfully prepared for a long and fatiguing journey. Travelling was a very different affair in those days from what it now is. It was all performed on horseback, there being neither good roads nor comfortable conveyances, much less the railways which now carry travellers and tourists so rapidly and comfortably into the very heart of North Wales; an expedition of a few miles was more fatiguing then, than one of ten times the distance would be at the present time.

Poor Eleanor often felt very weary, and sick at heart, as she slowly pursued her way; sometimes, at the close of a tedious day's riding, she was lifted, half fainting, from her horse, and she used often to despair of arriving in safety at the end of her journey. Still she never repined; and the remembrance that she was complying with her husband's wishes, would cheer and revive her drooping spirit.

At length, in the evening of an early April day, the towers of Caernarvon Castle, the object for which she had ardently longed, ap

peared in sight; and soon with her train the Queen approached its portals. She could not fail to be struck with the beauty of the situation, and the splendour of the building; its light elegant turrets, and the gigantic statue in front of the great entrance, which, holding a dagger in its hand, seemed like the guardian of the Castle, looking down upon her; but when she had passed the lofty gateway, under the massive tower, and thought of the loneliness of the place, a shudder ran through her frame ;—should she live to leave those dismal walls again?-and for a moment her courage drooped.

Caernarvon Castle is considered one of the most magnificent ruins in Great Britain, and has never been suffered to fall entirely into decay. Its walls, which enclose a space of about three acres, are more than three feet deep, and have a gallery within them, with slips for the discharge of missiles, and there are thirteen beautiful, strongly built towers. The Eagle Tower is the finest and loftiest of

them all, and it was to the lower part of this tower, into a tiny, narrow dark room, not larger than a good-sized closet, Queen Eleanor is said to have been conducted on her arrival.

What a bed-chamber for the Queen of England! It had no fireplace in it. At times the cold wind used to whistle through the crevices of the wall, and cause a great draught in the room; but the attendants of the Queen in some degree remedied this evil, by hanging large pieces of thick tapestry all round it, which gave the chamber a much more comfortable appearance; and this is supposed to have been the commencement of the custom of adorning walls with tapestry.

Queen Eleanor then caused a cradle to be made for the expected babe, and this ancient piece of furniture is still shown to the various visitors who frequent the ruined Castle.

It is composed of unpolished oak, and is hung by rings to two upright pieces of wood, very much after the fashion of the cots of the present day. Attempts seem to have been