I. MARCHING ALONG
[1]. Kentish Sir [Byng]. The first of the family known to fame was George Byng, Viscount Torrington (1663-1733), who could not be the man meant here by Browning.
[2]. crop-headed. In [allusion] to the close-cropped hair of the Puritans. Long wigs were the fashion among the Cavaliers; hence the Puritans were nicknamed "Roundheads."
[7]. King [Charles] the First. Pym, John (1584-1643). Leader of the Parliament in its actions against King Charles and the Royalist party.
[13]. [Hampden], John (1594-1643). One of the leaders of Parliament, known principally for his resistance to the illegal taxations of Charles I.
[14]. [Hazelrig], Sir Arthur. One of the members of Parliament whom Charles tried to impeach. Fiennes, Nathaniel. One of the leading members of Parliament. young Harry. Son of Sir Henry Vane, and a member of the Puritan party.
[15]. [Rupert]. Prince of the Palatinate (1619-1682), and nephew of Charles I. He served in the King's army during the civil war.
[23]. [Nottingham]. "Charles I raised his standard here, in 1642, as the beginning of the civil war."—Century Dictionary.
[page 246]