HEMANS, FELICIA DOROTHEA (BROWNE) (1793-1835).—­Poetess, dau. of a Liverpool merchant, who, owing to reverses, retired to North Wales.  While yet little more than a child she pub. her first poems, the reception of which was not encouraging.  In the same year, 1808, a further publication appeared which drew a letter from Shelley.  Her first important work, The Domestic Affections, appeared in 1812, in which year she was m. to Captain Hemans, an Irish officer.  The union, however, was not a happy one, and her husband practically deserted her and her five sons in 1818.  Her literary activity was continued during the whole of her short life, and her works include, The Vespers of Palermo, a drama, which was not successful, The Forest Sanctuary (1826), her best poem, Records of Woman, Lays of Leisure Hours, Songs of the Affections, Hymns for Childhood, and Thoughts during Sickness (1834), her last effort.  In 1829 she visited Scotland, where she was the guest of Scott, who held her in affectionate regard.  She also enjoyed the friendship of Wordsworth.  Always somewhat delicate, her health latterly entirely gave way, and she d. of a decline in 1835.  Her shorter pieces enjoyed much popularity, and still, owing to their grace and tenderness, retain a certain place, but her long poems are lacking in energy and depth, and are forgotten.

HENLEY, WILLIAM ERNEST (1849-1903).—­Poet and critic, b. at Gloucester, made the acquaintance of Robert Louis Stevenson (q.v.), and collaborated with him in several dramas, including Deacon Brodie, and Robert Macaire.  He engaged in journalism, and became ed. of The Magazine of Art, The National Observer, and The New Review, compiled Lyra Heroica, an anthology of English poetry for boys, and, with Mr. Farmer, ed. a Dictionary of Slang.  His poems, which include Hospital Rhymes, London Voluntaries, The Song of the Sword, For England’s Sake, and Hawthorn and Lavender, are very unequal in quality, and range from strains of the purest music to an uncouth and unmusical realism of no poetic worth.  He wrote with T.F.  Henderson a Life of Burns, in which the poet is set forth as a “lewd peasant of genius.”

Complete works, 7 vols., 1908.

HENRY VIII. (1491-1547).—­Besides writing songs including The Kings Ballad, was a learned controversialist, and contended against Luther in Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (Defence of the Seven Sacraments), a treatise which gained for him the title of Defender of the Faith.

HENRY of HUNTINGDON (1084-1155).—­Historian, was Archdeacon of Huntingdon from 1109.  His Historia Anglorum (History of the English) comes down to 1154.  He also wrote a treatise, De Contemptu Mundi (on Contempt of the World).