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went into the house, and told Mr Lancaster he had something
curious to shew him. Mr Lancaster asked what it was, adding,
"I suppose some bonefire," (for it was then, and still is a
custom, for the shepherds, on the evening before St John's
day, to light bonefires, and vie with each other in having
the largest.) Stricket told him, if he would walk with him
to the end of the house he would shew him what it was. They
then went together, and before Stricket spoke or pointed to
the place, Mr Lancaster himself discovered the phaenomenon,
and said to Stricket: "Is that what thou hast to shew me?"
"Yes. Master," replied Stricket: "Do you think you see as I
do?" They found they did see alike, so they went and alarmed
the family, who all came, and all saw this strange
phaenomenon.
These visionary horsemen seemed to come from the lowest part
of Souther-Fell, and became visible first at a place called
KNOTT; they then moved in regular troops along the side of
the Fell, till they came opposite Blake-hills, when
they went over the mountain: thus they described a sort of
curvilineal path upon the side of the Fell, and both their
first and last appearance were bounded by the top of the
mountain.
Frequently the last, or last but one, in a troop, (always
either the one or the other,) would leave his place, gallop
to the front, and then take the same pace with the rest, a
regular, swift walk: these changes happened to every
troop, (for many troops appeared,) and oftener than once or
twice, yet not at all times alike. The spectators saw,
all alike, the same changes, and at the same time as
they discovered, by asking each other questions as any
changes took place. Nor was this wonderful phaenomenon seen
at Blake-hills only, it was seen by every person at
every cottage within the distance of a mile; neither
was it confined to a momentary view, for from the time that
Stricket first observed it, the appearance must have lasted
at least two hours and an half, viz. from half past seven,
till the night coming on prevented the farther view; nor yet
was the distance such as could impose rude resemblances on
the eyes of credulity: Blake-hills lay not half a
mile from the place where this astonishing appearance
seemed to be, and many other places where it was
likewise seen are still nearer.
Desirous of giving my readers every possible satisfaction, I
procured the following attestation, signed by Mr Lancaster
and Stricket:
"We whose names are hereunto subscribed, decare the above
account to be true, and that we saw the phaenomena as here
related. As witness our hands this 21st day of July 1785.
WILLIAM LANCASTER
DANIEL STRICKET."
Thus I have given the best account of this wonderful
appearance; let others determine what it was. This country,
like every other where cultivation has been lately
introduced, abounds in the aniles fabellae of
fairies, ghosts, and apparitions; but these are never even
fabled to have been seen by more than one or two
persons at a time, and the view is always said to be
momentary. Speed tells of something indeed similar to this
as preceding a dreadful intestine war. Can something of this
nature have given rise to Ossian's grand and awful
mythology? or, finally, Is there any impiety in supposing,
as this happened immediately before that rebellion which was
intended to subvert the liberty, the law, and the religion
of England; that though immediate prophecies have ceased,
these visionary beings might be directed to warn mankind of
approaching tumults? In short, it is difficult to say
what it was, or what it was not.
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Having crossed the bridge near the eleventh-mile post, we
enter the manor of THRELKELD, part of the barony of
Greystock; most of the inhabitants are freeholders, except a
few below the church, which are arbitrary, under the Earl of
Londsdale. About 100 yards beyond the eleventh-mile post,
near to Stone-Rays, (an estate belonging to Rowland
Stephenson, Esq; one of the Members for the city of
Carlisle,) observe the rivulet called Mosedale-Beck;
its source may be pretty plainly traced between the two
mountains on the left, the roughest of which is called
Wolf-Cragg, and the smoothest Dodd.
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