Chapter Henriade to Herbert of H by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Guérin Les Petits Bollandistes, vol. i. p. 372.

Henry IV., in two parts. 1 Henry IV., from the deposition of Richard II. to the defeat and death of Henry Percy (Hotspur) at the battle of Shrewsbury, July 23, 1403. This part contains amongst the dramatis personæ the prince of Wales, sir John Falstaff, with Poins, Gadshill, Bardolph, Peto, and Mistress Quickly.—Shakespeare (1597).

2 Henry IV. continues the history from the battle of Shrewsbury to the death of the king. This part contains the same characters as those stated above (1598).

Henry V. continues the history of the two preceding plays, and contains an account of the battle of Agincourt, October 25, 1415. In act ii. sc. 3 Mrs. Quickly (now married to Pistol) relates the death of sir John Falstaff, and preparation for the marriage of Henry with princess Katherine, daughter of Charles VI. king of France.—Shakespeare (“Plaide by the Queenes Magesties players, 1598,” and printed in 1600).

Henry VI., in three parts. Part 1, from the accession of Henry VI. to his marriage with Margaret of Anjou, a period of 23 years. It opens with the funeral procession of Henry V. This part contains the victories of Joan of Arc, the restitution of France to Charles the dauphin, nominally the viceroy of Henry VI., but really an independent king, and the loss of France to the English sceptre by right of conquest.—Shakespeare (1596).

2 Henry VI. begins with the marriage of the king to Margaret of Anjou, and terminates with the battle of St.Albans, in May, 1455, in which Richard duke of York took the king prisoner. This part contains the commencement of the wars of the White and Red Roses, the death of the good duke Humphrey, and the rebellion of Jack Cade.—Shakespeare(1597).

3 Henry VI. This part ends with the accession of Edward IV., who sends Margaret of Anjou, the queen consort of Henry VI., back to France.—Shakespeare. It first appeared in 1595.

The contentions of the two Roses continued till Henry VII. (a Lancastrian) married Elizabeth the daughter of Edward IV. (of York), and rightful heir to the throne. By this marriage the two factions of York and Lancaster were united.

Henry VIII. contains the divorce of Katharine, marriage of the king to Anne Boleyn, and birth of Elizabeth. It Contains also the fall and death of cardinal Wolsey.—Shakespeare (1613, printed in folio 1623).

Henry [Lee], member for Virginia, on whose motion (July 4, 1776) the American congress published their declaration of independence, and erected the colonies into free and sovereign states.

Henry, the forest-born Demosthenêes,
Whose thunder shook the Philip of the seas [Great Britain]
   —Byron: Age of Bronze, viii. (1821).

Heorot, the magnificent palace built by Hrothgar king of Denmark. Here “he distributed rings [treasure] at the feast.”

Then was for the sons of the Geats a bench cleared in the beer hall; there the bold spirit, free from quarrel, went to sit. The thane observed his rank, and bore in his hand the twisted ale-cup…meanwhile the poet sang serene in Heorot; there was joy of heroes, no little pomp of Danes and Westerns.—Kemble’s translation, Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon epic, sixth century).

Heosphoros, the morning star.

O my light-bearer…
Ai, ai, Heosphoros!
   —Mrs. Browning: A Drama of Exile (1850).

Hepar, the Liver personified, the arch-city in The Purple Island, by Phineas Fletcher. Fully described in canto iii. (1633).