writes: He was short, broad-shouldered, scholar, oar, boxer, and bubbling over with energy. It was his active eager vitality that stirred ambitious longings within us, and his unselfishness that encouraged us to go further afield.'

A party of six boys hung together in specially close companionship in work and play during the early Carlisle school days: T. W. Cartmell, now Tutor of Christ's College, Cambridge, and his brother, now a Carlisle solicitor; the two Hetheringtons, one of whom was long a master at Winchester; and the two Creighton brothers. It was then that Creighton received from his brother his first nickname, 'Homer,' which clung to him amongst old schoolfellows for many years. It was given because of the rapidity and ease with which he construed. One schoolfellow says that his most distinct recollection of Creighton was the way in which all the small boys went to 'Homer' for help with their lessons.'

None of the six were great at athletics in the usual sense; but even then Creighton's taste for walking and his love for the country had begun to show themselves. His mother had been a good rider and driver, and had been fond of taking her boys long drives, thus sowing the seed of that love for nature which only strengthened with every year of Creighton's life. After her death the boys had a pony, but they had so many accidents that at last the pony was sent away; and though later on he made several trials, Creighton never cared for riding. Walking was the only exercise and amusement he desired. Even as a boy he led his companions for long rambles into the country, when tongues and legs vied with one another as to which could move faster. A younger companion who frequently accompanied him on these walks recalls 'the talk and chaff and jokes, which though sometimes above his head were delightful to listen to, and stimulating even to a little boy's intelligence.'

In November 1857 Creighton was sent to Durham to try for a King's Scholarship at the Grammar School. The examination was conducted by the Canons Residentiary of the Cathedral and the Head Master of the School. In that year for the first time Latin verse was required, a fact of which the Carlisle masters must have been ignorant, and Creighton, who as yet had done no Latin verse, was forced to leave the

not be looked at beforehand; we were to translate it as an unseen, and I am not sure that this plan did not later stand us in good stead.'

He is said to have already shown a liking for history, and on one occasion he created some indignation by carefully preparing the history paper for an examination when the form generally had conspired to neglect it.

At school he made many friends. Some of their letters to him which remain, testify to the most devoted and romantic affection. He made no mark in games; already so shortsighted as to be obliged to wear spectacles, he could not see to play cricket, but his unbounded energy made him enjoy football. He did not in any way separate himself from the athletic interests of the school; he always scored at the cricket matches, and accompanied the eleven when they went to play elsewhere. Except for the ordinary childish ailments, he did not know what illness was, and used in later life to speak scornfully of these degenerate days, when schoolboys are so often in the sanatorium.

He

Long walks remained his favourite recreation. explored every corner of the country round Durham, and began to take an interest in botany, making a collection of dried flowers which won the school prize. Though never in any sense a scientific botanist, this taste remained with him through life; he always noticed the flowers on his walks, and could unfailingly be appealed to for their names. The Creighton family spent their holidays sometimes at Allonby or Silloth by the sea, or at Moffat among the moors. Wherever they were, Creighton would lead his brother and sister off to explore the country. Sometimes the tramps were too long for the others, and Creighton would go alone. He collected wild flowers, moths, and ferns, and always knew how to find his way across country.

As he grew older he would go for walking excursions of several days together with his friends, and the lake country was naturally their favourite resort. On one occasion four of them started together from Penrith, each with five pounds in his pocket, and in ten days saw all the lakes and climbed many of the hills, walking often further than was good for them. Shortly after he left school, Creighton with three com