Master of construction in Wales

James's promotion turned a skilled builder into a powerful royal officer. Edward, frustrated with the pace of construction, made him master of the king's works in Wales. A wage of three shillings a day and direct control over Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech, and eventually Beaumaris show the scale of that authority. French and Latin versions of James's name and title explain why the same official appears differently across documents. The appointment helps explain how the Ring of Iron operated as an integrated royal building program rather than a set of isolated local projects.