Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/232

 176 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. 140. The Dog Whipper (IX., p. 158, par. 129). — Such entries are familiar to all readers of parish accounts. In Dr. Cox's " Churchwardens' Accounts " will be found plenty of information and an illustration of a dog whip, as also of dog-tongs. When farmers, shepherds, etc., took their dogs to church (as they still do in some places), such an official must have been invaluable, especially as it was generally also his duty to keep in order that more troublesome animal — the boy. Ygrec. 141. The Dog Whipper (IX., p. 158, par. 129). — A good description of this functionary may be found in the late Dr. T. N. Brushfield's paper on "The Churchwardens' Accounts of East Budleigh " {Trans. Devon. Assoc, xxvi., 361). In some places the dog whipper, noper, or flogger, was a regular salaried officer, as at Hartland. The earliest entry here occurs in 1598-9: — " It'm paid to John Frier for keeping the dogges out of the Churche this yeare ij'" The next year " whippinge " is used instead of " keeping,'' and at this period the terms " dog keeper " and " dog whipper " seem to be used indifferently. Frier died in 1603, and was succeeded by Philip Can, who continued in office at the same salary or wages until his death in 1647. There was then an interval until the Restoration, when William Noy was appointed at a salary of 4 s. per annum. On his death in 1676, Ozias Couch was appointed at 8s., but he had the additional duty of " sweeping the Church." In 1685 his salary was raised to los., as at Holcomb Rogus, and this was continued to his successor, Edmond Woodley, in 1696. The office was continued in Exeter Cathedral until a quite recent date, for in 1886 the widow of the last holder was acting as caretaker at the prebendal house in the cloisters. The dog whipper was a salaried attendant of the Cathedral, appointed by the Chapter, and " his rod of office, an ebony rod with a silver mitre at one end and a broad brass ferule at the other, is still preserved." The duty was sometimes performed by the sexton or beadle, who had also to wake the sleepers by tapping them on the head with his rod. R. Pearse Chope. [In reply to our enquiry, Mr. W. T. M. Snow, the Clerk to the Chapter, has courteously informed us that the office