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Question
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Could you tell me about a sheep stealer called Brewer, who I think had some connection with John Aubrey?
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Question asked on
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04 July 2011
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Answer
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John Brewer was a 17th century resident of Steeple Ashton. In 1661 John Haskins, a serjeant at law in London, wrote to John Aubrey as follows.
'Mr Aubrey, - I have bin told that in the time of Baron Tanfield, about 1620, there was indicted one John Brewer, of Stiple Ashton, for sheep stealing, who had a trick to keep the mutton sweet seven weeks without salt, but would not tell his way to the judge, no not at his trial. He was acquitted. Now will you oblige me and some other of your servants, if you can enquire how this was done. - Your servant
John Haskins'
Aubrey did not know but being an intensely curious man, particularly when his native Wiltshire was involved, made enquiries of Robert Beach of Steeple Ashton. The answer provided an example of how the countryman, even when on trial, liked to have a laugh at the expense of learned men. The sheep, when first stolen, were taken to Claverton, near Bath (a distance of between eight and ten miles), and kept alive in caves near the stone quarries. Whether it was the possession of this supposed secret that in-trigued the judge and saved Mr Brewer's skin, or whether it was that the sheep, being the evidence, were so well hidden that they were never found, we shall never know.
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