Henchman. A corruption of “Haunchman,” the groom or servant who out of doors was in constant attendance upon his master at the flank or haunches of his horse. See “[Flunkey].”
Heneage Lane. After the residence of Sir Thomas Heneage, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the sixteenth century.
Henrietta Street. In Covent Garden, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. On the north side of Oxford Street, after Henrietta Cavendish, who, by her marriage, carried not only a goodly portion of the Cavendish estate, but also that of her father, Lord Holles, into the Harley family.
Henry Irving. See “[Irving].”
Heptarchy. The Saxon division of England comprising Kent, Sussex, Wessex, Essex, East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria, each having originally its own ruler.
Herculaneum. The foundation of this buried city was by the Romans traditionally ascribed to Hercules.
Hereford. Expresses the Saxon for “army ford” over the River Wye. During the Heptarchy this was the military headquarters of Mercia.
Heroic Verse. That usually selected for epic poetry, since the exploits of Achilles at the siege of Troy were set forth by Homer in hexameters.
Hertford. Originally “Hartford,” being the ford of the River Lea crossed by harts.
He’s a Brick. This expression, if not quite as old as the hills, carries us back to the time of Plutarch, who in his “Lives” gives the following account of its origin:--“On a certain occasion, an ambassador from Epirus paid a visit to Argesilaus, King of Sparta, on a mission of diplomatic importance. By that monarch he was shown over the capital. But the ambassador failed to see any massive walls reared to defend the city, and openly expressed his astonishment to the King. ‘Sire!’ he said, ‘I have visited most of your principal towns, and find no walls reared for defence. Why is this?’ ‘Indeed, Sir Ambassador,’ Argesilaus replied, ‘thou canst not have looked carefully. Come with me to-morrow, and I will show thee the walls of Sparta.’ On the following morning the King conducted his guest out upon the plains, where his army was drawn up in full battle array, and, proudly pointing to the serried host, he exclaimed: ‘There, Sir Ambassador, thou beholdest the walls of Sparta--ten thousand men, and every man a brick!’”