1603, John Florio, trans. Michel de Montaigne, Essays, I.40:And of those base-minded jesters or buffons, some have beene seene, that even at the point of death would never leave their jesting and scoffing. He whom the heads-man threw off from the Gallowes cried out, ‘Row the Gally,’ which was his ordinarie by-word.
1885 — Gilbert and Sullivan, ''And made him Headsman, for we said,''"Who's next to be decapited''Cannot cut off another's head''Until he's cut his own off...."
