No More Learning

Jonson was fond of poking fun at the Train Bands. Cf. _U. _ 62,
_Wks. _ 8. 409; _Ev. Man in_, _Wks. _ 1. 88; and _Alchemist_,
_Wks. _ 4. 13. Face, it will be remembered, had been 'translated
suburb-captain' through Subtle's influence.

The immediate occasion of Jonson's satire was doubtless the
revival of military enthusiasm in 1614, of which Entick
(_Survey_ 2. 115) gives the following account:

'The military genius of the _Londoners_ met with an opportunity,
about this time, to convince the world that they still retained the
spirit of their forefathers, should they be called out in the cause
of their king and country. His majesty having commanded a general
muster of the militia throughout the kingdom, the city of _London_
not only mustered 6000 citizens completely armed, who performed their
several evolutions with surprizing dexterity; but a martial spirit
appeared amongst the rising generation.
The children endeavoured
to imitate their parents; chose officers, formed themselves into
companies, marched often into the fields with colours flying and beat
of drums, and there, by frequent practice, grew up expert in the
military exercises. '

=3. 2. 35 Cheapside. = Originally Cheap, or West Cheap, a street
between the Poultry and St. Paul's, a portion of the line from
Charing Cross to the Royal Exchange, and from Holborn to the
Bank of England.

'At the west end of this Poultrie and also of Buckles bury, beginneth
the large street of West Cheaping, a market-place so called, which
street stretcheth west till ye come to the little conduit by Paule's
Gate. '--Stow, ed. Thoms, p. 99.

The glory of Cheapside was Goldsmith's Row (see note 3. 5. 2).
It was also famous in early times for its 'Ridings,' and during
Jonson's period for its 'Cross,' its 'Conduit,' and its 'Standard'
(see note 1. 1. 56 and Wh--C.