thrice in the north porch. At the beginning ot the second Lesson, he waved it three times over the clergyman's head and then held it in the same position until the conclusion of the Lesson, when he folded the lash around the stock and deposited the whip in the pew belonging to the lord of the manor of Hundon.
This quaint usage came to an end in 1846, when the land at Broughton changed hands. It is easy to speculate upon its origin, but hard to formulate any theory which can provide a satisfactory explanation of all the details. It is safe to assert that the custom was one of great antiquity and had originally some kind of religious significance. Its association with the office of Mattins must have been a post-Reformation development.
When silver pennies were no longer minted, a florin was substituted for them.
The origin of the name is doubtful. It seems not unlikely that it is derived from the term "goad," denoting the pointed staff with which oxen are driven. In this connection it is significant that the Caistor whip has a distinctly pointed butt to the stock.

WILLIAM LINGS, parish clerk, was buried in November, 1749, aged 35, and was succeeded by William Jollands, who held the office for 29 years and was buried in April, 1775. John Foster, the next clerk, was buried in September, 1825, after having discharged his duties for just over half a century. He was succeeded by his son, Joshua, who was clerk until his death in 1847, when the latter's son, another Joshua was appointed to the vacant office. He was buried in June, 1871, and was followed by his son, yet another Joshua (Plate III), who faithfully discharged his duties until his decease on December 5th, 1905. He was succeeded by George Lovelock who retired in 1949 when Charles Pegg was appointed. He died in 1955, and no successor has been appointed.
The remarkable record of the Foster family is mentioned on a headstone at the south-west corner of the churchyard.