[1. Vane, young in years:] Vane was born in 1613.
[3. gowns, not arms:] civilians, not soldiers. The expression is a Latinism, the gown standing for the toga.
[4. The fierce Epirot and the African bold:] Pyrrhus and Hannibal.
[6. hard to be spelled.] Compare [Il Penseroso 170].
XVIII (1655).
The historical event which furnishes the occasion of this sonnet is the persecution of the Protestant Waldenses by the Piedmontese and French governments, at the time of Cromwell’s Protectorate. Cromwell’s vigorous and successful intervention was the means of staying this horror, and gives evidence of the respect entertained for his government among the states of Europe.
[4. when all our fathers worshiped stocks and stones.] Christianity had been introduced into the Waldensian country while Britain was still pagan.
[5. their groans Who were thy sheep:] the groans of those who were.
[12. The triple Tyrant.] The Pope, who wore a triple crown.
[14. the Babylonian woe.] The puritans interpreted the Babylon of Revelation as the church of Rome. See Revelation XVIII.