By the Rev. Canon J. EB. Jackson. 325 
was burned: before which time it was a market-town; but out of 
the ashes of this, sprang up a market at Lavington, which flourisheth 
still ;’—7.e., Market Lavington tripped up the heels of poor-Mar- 
ket Ashton. 
In the middle of the street at Steeple Ashton, on a large base of 
several steps, is a round column surmounted by a huge ball, and other 
beautifications. They call it,—out of courtesy, I suppose—a Cross. 
The resemblance is not particularly striking; but such as the 
interesting object is, it is probably the representation of the original 
Market Cross. 
In those days (1640 or thereabouts) there were in Steeple Ashton 
several names of families still among us—as Angell, Goldney, 
Awdry, Locke, and Greenhill. Of the last-mentioned family there 
was a Henry Greenhill, to whom thére is a monument in Stockton 
Church, beyond Warminster. He is called, in the inscription, 
Esquire, and his wife was a Champneys, of Orchardley, near Frome. 
He was born in 1646; passed the greater part of his life at sea, 
burning and destroying French ships; became Governor of the Gold 
Coast in Africa; afterwards a Chief Commissioner of the Navy; 
and laid the foundation of, and finished the building of, the Dock- 
yards at Plymouth. Other eminent natives there very likely were: 
but I do not happen to have met with their names in history, except 
one whose case I must mention to you, as itis an example which 
just at this particular time it might be useful for us to follow; but 
only to a certain extent, because he was an eminent sheep-stealer. 
I found the story among old John Aubrey the Wiltshire antiquary’s 
papers, in a cupboard at Oxford, many years ago, in a letter, written 
from London, by one John Hoskins, serjeant-at-law, to Aubrey, 
which runs thus :— 
** London, Deo. 14, 1661. 
‘Mr, Aubrey—I have bin told that in the time of Baron Tanfield, about 1620 
(40 years before), there was indicted one John Brewer of Stiple Ashton for - 
sheepstealing, who had a trick to keep the mutton sweet 7 weeks without salt ; 
but would not tell his way to the Judge, no not at histrial. He was acquitted. 
Now will you oblige me and some other of your servants, if you can enquire 
how this was done. Your servant, 
Joun Hosxyns.” 
