HENRY, MATTHEW (1662-1714).—­Commentator, s. of Philip H., a learned Nonconformist divine, was b. in Flintshire.  He was originally destined for the law, and studied at Gray’s Inn, but turned his mind to theology, and, in 1687, became minister of a Nonconformist church at Chester.  Here he remained until 1712, when he went to take the oversight of a congregation at Hackney, where he d. two years later.  He wrote many religious works, but is chiefly remembered by his Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, which he did not live to complete beyond the Acts.  The comment on the Epistles was, however, furnished after his death by 13 Nonconformist divines.  Though long superseded from a critical point of view, the work still maintains its place as a book of practical religion, being distinguished by great freshness and ingenuity of thought, and pointed and vigorous expression.

HENRY, ROBERT (1718-1790).—­Historian, b. at St. Ninians, Stirlingshire, entered the Church of Scotland, becoming one of the ministers of Edin.  He wrote the History of Great Britain on a New Plan (1771-93), in 6 vols., covering the period from the Roman invasion until the reign of Henry VIII.  The novelty consisted in dividing the subjects into different heads, civil history, military, social, and so on, and following out each of them separately.  The work was mainly a compilation, having no critical qualities, and is now of little value.  Notwithstanding the persistent and ferocious attacks of Dr. Gilbert Stewart (q.v.), it had a great success, and brought the author over L3000, and a government pension of L100.

HENRY, THE MINSTREL, (see BLIND HARRY).

HENRYSON, ROBERT (1430?-1506?).—­Scottish poet.  Few details of his life are known, even the dates of his birth and death being uncertain.  He appears to have been a schoolmaster, perhaps in the Benedictine Convent, at Dunfermline, and was a member of the Univ. of Glasgow in 1462.  He also practised as a Notary Public, and may have been in orders.  His principal poems are The Moral Fables of Esope the Phrygian, The Testament of Cresseide, a sequel to the Troilus and Cressida of Chaucer, to whom it was, until 1721, attributed, Robene and Makyne, the first pastoral, not only in Scottish vernacular, but in the English tongue, The Uplandis Mous and The Burges Mous (Country and Town Mouse), and the Garmond of Gude Ladeis.  H., who was versed in the learning and general culture of his day, had a true poetic gift.  His verse is strong and swift, full of descriptive power, and sparkling with wit.  He is the first Scottish lyrist and the introducer of the pastoral to English literature.

HENTY, GEORGE ALFRED (1832-1902).—­Boys’ novelist, wrote over 80 books for boys, which had great popularity.  Among them are By England’s Aid, Dash for Khartoum, Facing Death, In Freedom’s Cause, Out on the Pampas, etc., all full of adventure and interest, and conveying information as well as amusement.