Archaeologia Cambrensis. SIXTH SERIES-VOL. III, PART I JANUARY, 1903. THE EXPLORATION OF CLEGYR VOYA. BY THE REV. S. BARING-GOULD. CLEGYR VOYA is an elevation of igneous rock rising some 45 ft. above the fields and the Rhoson Common, near St. David's. It forms a long parallelogram running north-northeast by south-south-west, and is tolerably accessible by grassy slopes on all sides save where the rock rises precipitously. The north-north-east approach is by a narrow grassy slope between two projecting rocks, that form natural defences on each side, but a very steep slope is at the start. The south-south-west slope is more open and less abrupt, and it is broken by a terrace easily mounted from the road leading from Porth Clais. Above that are three horns of rock. Between the two on the left, as we ascend, it would be difficult to mount, but this is not the case between the central and the right hand horn. The portion of the long side to the south-east parallel with the Alun Valley, and rising above the farm-houses crouching below in shelter from the gales from the sea, is easy of access except at those points, where the rocks start up precipitously. The same may be said of the north-west side. 6TH SER., VOL. III. 1 The entire summit has been fortified by a bank of stone mingled with earth, but originally a wall of stones bedded in earth, that connects the rocky prongs. This bank, or rather wall, was originally faced throughout with large slabs set on end, like the camp of Dinas Sylwy or Bwrdd Arthur in Anglesey, with this exception, that the latter is faced internally as well as externally with slabs set on end. Most of these facers have been removed for building purposes, but on the south-south-east side one remains in situ. On the north-north-west side the face for 30 ft. is intact, and five other slabs remain in position. At the northnorth-east extremity are six still in position, and pertaining to an outwork beyond, one slab is still standing, and two others are fallen. The fort is a rudely rectangular parallelogram, but with an adjunct or outwork at the north-north-east extremity, beyond that portion of the bank which is loftiest. Of this outwork, the two sides that make the continuations of the camp in its greatest length are formed by abrupt rocks. There is no opening in the wall to afford communication between this outwork and the main body of the camp; and those defending it, if driven from their position, must have retreated by passing among the rocks on their left. In The History and Antiquities of Saint David's, by Jones and Freeman, 1856, an account is given of the south-south-western end, which must be quoted, as it no longer applies the walls having been removed by road-menders and the builders of the fences to the adjoining fields. They say : "The defences at the west end are of a rather complicated nature, perhaps to protect the entrance, which seems to have been placed near the south-western angle. These stand at the very brink of the western slope, which, as has been said, is very open. Accordingly, there are traces of an outwork about half-way down the hill." Unhappily all this has been levelled, and it is with difficulty that anything can be distinguished, and here nothing can be planned with any certainty. The interior of both the main camp and the annexe have been hollowed out artificially, probably with the purpose of finding the stone to serve for the walls and for the large facing slabs. The camp takes its name from Boya, a Gwyddel chief, who occupied it in St. David's day, and who caused him considerable annoyance. When David removed from the "Old Bush"-probably Ty Gwyn on the slope of Carn Llidi to the valley of the Alun-he lighted a fire. Boya's camp commanded the ravine, and, seeing smoke rising from it, he went to the spot to enquire who had settled there without his permission. David pacified him without much difficulty, but Boya's wife was inveterate in her animosity, and she had recourse to various expedients to force him to leave. As these proved unsuccessful, she made, as a last resource, an appeal to her gods, and tried to propitiate them with a sacrifice. For this purpose, she invited her step-daughter, named Dunawd, one warm day, to come into the hazelbrake on the slope of the Alun, to pick nuts, and that she might dress her curls. When the girl laid her head in the woman's lap, she shore off her hair. This was tantamount to adoption, and then, with a knife. cut the child's throat, and poured out her blood to the gods. This did not avail, and the woman, afraid of Boya's wrath, ran away and concealed herself. What became of her was never known. She probably proposed absenting herself till Boya had cooled down, but circumstances occurred that made a return impossible. During the night, Paucant, son of Liski, another Irish pirate, entered the little harbour that now bears his father's name, stole in the dark up to the crag, and, finding the entrance unguarded, burst in with his men and slew Boya in his bed. The Life of St. David says that fire fell from Heaven and consumed the fortress. It must be admitted that spade and shovel show no evidence of the place having been destroyed by fire. If we may trust the "Life of St. Teilo," in the Book of Llandaff, David had so won on Boya that he got the rude Irish chief to consent to be baptized. Supposing this to have been the case, it explains the anger of that obstinate pagan, his wife. In the Latin and Welsh Lives of St. David it is said that a spring flowed where the blood of Dunawd had fallen, that was endowed with miraculous healing powers, and was called " Fynnon Dunawd," and the place "Merthyr Dunawd," even to this day. Where that spring is I have not ascertained. There is a reputed well in the rock of Clegyr Voya that is supposed always to have water in it, but to fill especially when the tide flows. It is a small hollow in the igneous rock, from which a core or crystal has fallen, and is about large enough for the fist to be inserted. This "Fynnon" is still in repute, and its water is regarded as sovereign, especially for sore eyes. Whilst I was engaged on the exploration of Clegyr Voya, I went several times a day to the reputed spring, but never found water in it, though the rock and sediment at the bottom remained wet. A tradition exists that, eighty years ago, a party of men resolved on treasure seeking in the camp. The first day, they had hardly begun to dig before a pouring rain came on which drove them away. They went again, and next day a thunderstorm broke over them; but they did not leave till they had uncovered a kettle. They attempted the third day to dig out the kettle, but on reaching the rock thunder and lightning played about it, and the storm continued with such violence, and so long, that they retreated and abandoned the attempt. The origin of the story seems to be this: It is commonly held that a subterranean passage connects Clegyr Voya with St. David's Cathedral, and that considerable treasure is hidden in it. The grandfather of the present Mr. Davies, of the |