100) gives a list of famous
executions
at this place, and says that
'in the year 1399, Henry IV.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
' Jonson refers to the disaster in his
_Execration upon Vulcan_, _U. 61_, _Wks._ 8. 408. See also Dekker,
_Paules Steeples complaint_, _Non-dram. Wks._ 4. 2.
=1. 1. 56 Standard in Cheepe.= This was a water-stand or conduit
in the midst of the street of West Cheaping, where executions were
formerly held. It was in a ruinous condition in 1442, when it was
repaired by a patent from Henry VI. Stow (_Survey_, ed. Thoms, p.
100) gives a list of famous
executions
at this place, and says that
'in the year 1399, Henry IV.
caused the blanch charters made by
Richard II. to be burnt there.'
=1. 1. 58 a needle of Spaine.= Gifford, referring to Randolph's
_Amyntos_ and Ford's _Sun's Darling_, points out that 'the best
needles, as well as other sharp instruments, were, in that age, and
indeed long before and after it, imported from Spain.' The tailor's
needle was in cant language commonly termed a _Spanish pike_.
References to the Spanish needle are frequent. It is mentioned by
Jonson in _Chloridia_, _Wks._ 8. 99; by Dekker, _Wks._ 4. 308; and by
Greene, _Wks._ 11. 241.
