The Rev. E. Burnaby 65 



spent while staying with the hospitable folk of that pleasant 

 land. He began his hunting in 1853, when five years old, with 

 the Oakley. Both he and his brother Fred were born at St. 

 Peter's rectory, Bedford, where they began their hunting, being 

 taught to ride by the old family coachman, and blooded by 

 Robert Arkwright, at that time Master of the Oakley. Evelyn 

 was born on January 7th, 1848. 



The custom of blooding children when first they go out 

 hunting is one that has proved very trying to many ; some may 

 feel exceedingly proud, but others are near to tears. Burnaby 

 was told by the Master not to wash his face before his mother 

 had seen him, thinking no doubt that having herself been 

 reared amongst sporting people she would be pleased to see her 

 son showing signs of his hunting baptism. 



He was educated at Eton, some of his contemporaries being 

 Mr. A. J. Balfour, Duke of Beaufort, Duke of Argyll, Lord 

 Randolph Churchill, and Ernest Vivian, afterwards Lord 

 Swansea. Many of these have been his lifelong friends. While 

 at Eton in 1863 he was invited to breakfast with Sir Charles 

 and Lady Phipps at Windsor Castle on the wedding-day of the 

 Prince of Wales (Edward VII.), and he saw the newly-married 

 couple drive out of the Sovereign's entrance en route to the 

 station for Osborne, where they proposed spending their honey- 

 moon. 



Princess Alexandra arrived in England two days before the 

 wedding, and left the train at Slough. Young Burnaby and 

 Randolph Churchill, who were seated on a wall, watched the 

 procession as it passed through Eton on the way to Windsor. 

 I think the mounted band of the 2nd Life Guards impressed 

 them most. 



Then came Oxford, where Burnaby graduated with honours. 

 After this he was curate at Christchurch, Frome, with a stipend 

 of £60 a year. 



Once while preaching at Keyham, near Borrough, when the 

 candles had been lighted in the pulpit his surplice sleeves were 

 swept through the flames so often during the peroration, in such 

 an alarming manner that a friend dashed up the pulpit steps 

 and whispered, " Do you want all the women to faint ? They 

 certainly will unless you keep your arms out of the candles." 

 At times parson Burnaby v/as a trifle forgetful, and when 



