Chapter Henriette to Hercules Secundus of H by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Henriette to Hercules Secundus

Henriette (3 syl.), in the French language, means "a perfect woman." The character is from Molière's Femmes Savantes.

Henry (Poor), a touching tale in poetry by Hartmann von der Aur [Our ], one of the minnesingers (12th century). Henry, prince of Hoheneck, in Bavaria, being struck with leprosy, was told that he never would be healed till a spotless maiden volunteered to die on his behalf. Prince Henry, never expecting to meet with such a victim, sold most of his possessions, and went to live in the cottage of a small tenant farmer. Here Elsie, the farmer's daughter, waited on him; and, hearing the condition of his cure, offered herself, and went to Salerno to complete the sacrifice. Prince Henry accompanied her, was cured, and married Elsie, who thus became Lady Alicia, wife of Prince Henry of Hoheneck.

Henry Grace de Dieu The largest ship built by Henry VIII. It carried 72 guns, 700 men, and was 1,000 tons burthen. (See Great Harry.)

Hephæs'tos The Greek Vulcan.

Heptarchy (Greek for seven governments). The Saxon Heptarchy is the division of England into seven parts, each of which had a separate ruler: as Kent, Sussex, Wessex, Essex, East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria.

Hera The Greek Juno, the wife of Zeus. (The word means "chosen one," harreo.)

Heraclei'dæ (4 syl.). The descendants of Heracles (Latin, Hercules).

Heralds (Anglo-Saxon here (2 syl.), an army, and ealdor, a governor or official.
   The coat of arms represents the knight himself from whom the bearer is descended.
   The shield represents his body, and the helmet his head.
   The flourish is his mantle.
   The motto is the ground or moral pretension on which he stands.
   The supporters are the pages, designated by the emblems of bears, lions, and so on.

Herald's College consists of three kings-of-arms, six heralds, and four pursuivants. The head of the college is called the Earl Marshal of England.
   The three kings-of-arms are Garter (blue), Clarencieux and Norroy (purple)
   The six heralds are styled Somerset, Richmond, Lancastor, Windsor, Chester, and York.
   The four pursuivants are Rouge Dragon, Blue Mantle, Portcullis, and Rouge Croix.
   GARTER KING- OF-ARMS is so called from his special duty to attend at the solemnities of election, investiture, and installation of Knights of the Garter.
   CLARENCIEUX KING-OF-ARMS. So called from the Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV. His duty is to marshal and dispose the funerals of knights on the south side of the Trent.
   NORROY KING-OF-ARMS has similar jurisdiction to Clarencieux, only on the north side of the Trent.

"There is a supplementary herald, called `Bath King of Arms,' who has no seat in the college. His duty is to attend at the election of a knight of the Bath."

   In Scotland the heraldic college consists of LYON KING-OF-ARMS, six heralds, and five pursuivants.
   In Ireland it consists of ULSTER KING-OF-ARMS, two heralds, and two pursuivants.

Heraldic Colours (See Jewels .)

Herb Many herbs are used for curative purposes simply because of their form or marks: thus, wood- sorrel, being shaped like a heart, is used as a cordial; liver-wort for the liver; the celandine, which has yellow juice, for the jaundice; herb-dragon, which is speckled like a dragon, to counteract the poison of serpents, etc.

Herb of Grace Rue is so called because of its use in exorcism, and hence the Roman Catholics sprinkle holy water with a bunch of rue. It was for centuries supposed to prevent contagion. Rue is the German raute; Greek, rute; Latin, ruta, meaning the "preserver," being a preservative of health (Greek, ruo, to preserve). Ophelia calls it the "Herb of Grace o' Sundays."