The horse and man, upon strict looking at, appeared to be but one being,
rather than two distinct ones, but they did not at all resemble clouds
or vapours of any kind.
William Lancaster observed that he never considered these aërial images
to be real beings, because of the impracticability of a march over the
precipices they seemed to traverse, where horses' hoofs had never trod
before. They did not, however, appear to be any less real than on the
former occasion; for so convinced were the spectators of the reality of
what they had seen, that, as soon as the sun had dawned next morning,
several of them climbed the mountain, through an idle expectation of
finding the marks of horses' feet, after so numerous an army; but when
they arrived at the supposed scene of action, not the mark of a single
hoof was discernible, nor have any tidings been received of troops being
in the neighbourhood up to this time.[6]
Though this part of the country, like every other, where cultivation has
been lately introduced, abounds in all the _aniles fabellæ_ of fairies,
ghosts, and apparitions, 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. But in this case the twenty-six spectators saw all
alike the same changes, and at the same time, as they discovered by
asking each other questions as any change took place. Nor was this
wonderful phenomenon observed by these individuals only; it was seen by
every person, at every cottage, for a mile round; neither was it
confined to a momentary view; for, from the time it was first observed,
the appearance must have lasted at least two hours and a half, viz.,
from half-past seven, till the night coming on prevented the further
view; nor yet was the distance such as could impose rude resemblances on
the eyes of credulity. The whole story has certainly much of the air of
a romance, and it may appear to some fittest for Amadis de Gaul, or
Glenville's System of Witches, than for insertion here as a fact. But
although it may be difficult to reconcile its probability, and beyond
even philosophy to explain, yet such is the evidence we have of its
occurrence, that I do not myself entertain the slightest doubt of its
having actually taken place as here related. The whole, however, was
unquestionably an optical delusion.
As instances have frequently occurred in which the forms and action of
human beings have been pictured in the clouds, or in vapour, it seems
highly probable, on a consideration of all the circumstances of the
case, that certain vapours must have hovered round the mountain when
these appearances were observed. It is also possible that these vapours
may have been impressed with the shadowy forms which seemed to "imitate
humanity," by a particular operation of the sun's rays, united with some
singular, but unknown, refractive combination then taking place in the
atmosphere.
It has been remarked that these appearances were observed most
particularly on the eve of the last Scotch Rebellion, when troops of
horsemen might be privately exercising at no great distance. Indeed, the
Editor of the _Lonsdale Magazine_, without giving his authority,
observes, that it was afterwards actually discovered "to have been the
rebels exercising on the western coast of Scotland, whose movements had
been reflected by some fine transparent vapour similar to the Fata
Morgana."[7]
Instances are recorded of the phenomena of spectral armies having been
occasionally witnessed in other localities. It has been stated that a
troop of phantom horsemen was seen coursing over the heights of
Helvellyn the day before the battle of Marston Moor.[8] Hutchinson, in
his _History of Cumberland_, relates the following as a parallel
instance with that of Soutra Fell. In the spring of 1707, early in a
serene morning, was observed by two persons in Leicestershire an
appearance of an army marching along, till going behind a great hill it
disappeared. The forms of pikes, and carbines were distinguishable; the
march was not entirely in one direction, but was at the first like the
junction of two armies, and the meeting of generals.[9] There is also a
well-authenticated statement of a similar phenomenon, witnessed not long
ago, on the Mendip Hills, in Somersetshire;[10] and Speed tells us of
something of a like nature as preceding a dreadful intestine war.[11]
Something of this kind may have given rise to Ossian's grand and awful
mythology.
These optical illusions, occurring on Soutra Fell, form a subject
peculiarly adapted for "the poet's pen," and are finely illustrated in
the following poem, written in conformity with the popular belief of the
lake villagers, that it really was a presentiment of the Scotch
Rebellion, and that the horrors of the final battle were depicted in a
prophetic manner. There can be no 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 may have ceased, these visionary beings might be directed to
warn mankind of approaching tumults.
"Look how the world's poor people are amazed
At apparitions, signs, and prodigies,
Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gazed,
Infusing them with dreadful prophecies."
SHAKESPEARE'S _Venus and Adonis_.