HENRY of Sufia, in Latin de Sugyfo, a famous civilian and canonist of the 13th century, acquired such reputation by his learning, that he was called the source and splendour of the law. He was archbishop of Embrun about the year 1258, and cardinal bishop of Ostia in 1262. He wrote A summary of the canon and civil law; and a commentary on the book of the decrets, composed by order of Alexander IV.

HENRY the Minstrel, commonly called Blind Harry, an ancient Scottish author, distinguished by no particular surname, but well-known as the composer of an historical poem reciting the achievements of Sir William Wallace. This poem continued for several centuries to be in great repute; but afterwards sunk into neglect, until very lately that it has been again released from its obscurity by a very neat and correct edition published at Perth under the inspection and patronage of the earl of Buchan.

It is difficult to ascertain the precise time in which this poet lived, or when he wrote his history, as the two authors who mention him speak somewhat differently. Dempster, who wrote in the beginning of the 17th century, says that he lived in the year 1361; but Major, who was born in the year 1446, says that he composed this book during the time of his infancy, which we must therefore suppose to have been a few years posterior to 1446; for if it had been composed that very year, the circumstance would probably have been mentioned. As little can we suppose, from Mr Dempster's words, that Henry was born in 1361; for though he says that he lived in that year, we must naturally turally imagine rather that he was then come to the years of maturity, or began to distinguish himself in the world, than that he was only born at that time. The author of the dissertation on his life, prefixed to the new edition of the poem, endeavours to reconcile matters in the following manner: "It is not indeed impossible that he might be born in or about that year (1361). In the time of Major's infancy he might be about 83 years of age. In that case, it may be supposed that it was the work of his old age to collect and put in order the detached pieces of his history of Wallace, which he had probably composed in those parts of the country where the incidents were said to have happened."

We are entirely ignorant of the family from which Henry was descended; though, from his writings, we should be led to suppose that he had received a liberal education. In them he discovers some knowledge in divinity, classical history, and astronomy, as well as of the languages. In one place he boasts of his celibacy, which seems to indicate his having engaged himself in some of the religious orders of that age. From what Major says further of him, we may suppose his profession to have been that of a travelling bard; though it does not appear that he was skilled in music, or had no other profession than that just mentioned. His being blind from his birth, indeed, makes this not improbable; though even this circumstance is not inconsistent with the supposition of his being a religious mendicant.

"The particulars (says Major) which he heard related by the vulgar, he wrote in the vulgar verse, in which he excelled. By reciting his histories before princes or great men, he gained his food and raiment, of which he was worthy." It is thus probable that he would be a frequent visitor at the Scottish court; and would be made welcome by those great families who could boast of any alliance with the hero himself, or took pleasure in hearing his exploits or those of his companions.

With regard to the authenticity of his histories, Major informs us only that he "does not believe everything that he finds in such writings;" but from other testimonies it appears, that he consulted the very best authorities which could at that time be had. Though, according to the most early account of Henry, it appears to have been at least 56 years after the death of Wallace that Henry was born; yet he is said to have consulted with several of the descendants of those who had been the companions of that hero while he achieved his most celebrated exploits, and who were still capable of ascertaining the veracity of what he published. The principal of these were Wallace of Craigie and Liddle of that Ilk; who, he says, persuaded him to omit in his history a circumstance which ought to have inferred. Besides these, he consulted with the principal people of the kingdom; and he utterly disclaims the idea of having adhered entirely to any unwritten tradition, or having been promised any reward for what he wrote. His chief authority, according to his own account, was a Latin history of the exploits of Sir William, written partly by Mr John Blair and partly by Mr Thomas Gray, who had been the companions of the hero himself. Henry's account of these two authors, is to the following purpose: "They became acquainted with Wallace when the latter was only about 16 years of age, and at that time a student at the school of Dundee; and their acquaintance with him continued till his death, which happened in his 29th year. Mr John Blair went from the schools in Scotland to Paris, where he studied some time, and received priest's orders. He returned to Scotland in 1296, where he joined Wallace, who was bravely afflicting the liberties of his country. Mr Thomas Gray, who was parson of Libberton, joined Wallace at the same time. They were men of great wisdom and integrity, zealous for the freedom of Scotland; and were present with Wallace, and afflicting to him, in most of his military enterprises. They were also his spiritual counsellors, and administered to him godly comfort. The history written by these two clergymen was attested by William Sinclair bishop of Dunkeld, who had himself been witness to many of Wallace's actions. The bishop, if he had lived longer, was to have sent their book to Rome, for the purpose of obtaining the sanction of the pope's authority."

The book which Henry thus appeals to as his principal authority is now lost, so that we have no opportunity of comparing it with what he has written. The character given by Dempster of Henry, however, is more favourable than that by Major. He tells us, that "he was blind from his birth; a man of singular happy genius; he was indeed another Homer. He did great honour to his native country, and raised it above what was common to it in his age. He wrote, in the vernacular verse, an elaborate and grand work, in ten books, of the deeds of William Wallace." In this account there is a mistake; for the poem contains eleven or twelve books; but Dempster, who wrote in a foreign country, and had not a printed copy of Henry's work by him when he wrote his eulogium, is excusable in a mistake of this kind.

With regard to his poetical merit, it must undoubtedly rank very far below that of Homer, whom indeed he scarcely resembles in any other respects than that he went about, as Homer is said to have done, reciting the exploits of the heroes of his country, and that he was blind. In this last circumstance, however, he was still worse than Homer; for Henry was born blind, but Homer became blind after he had been advanced in years. Hence Henry, even supposing his genius to have been equal to that of Homer, must have lain under great disadvantages; and these are very evident in his works. The descriptive parts are evidently deficient, and the allusions taken principally from the way in which nature affects those senses of which he was possessed. Thus, speaking of the month of March, he calls it the month of right digestion, from the supposed fermentation then begun in the earth. Of April he says that the earth is then able, or has obtained a power of producing its different vegetables; and of this productive power he appears to have been more sensible than of the effects which commonly strike us most sensibly. "By the working of nature (says he), the fields are again clothed, and the woods acquire their worthy weed of green. May brings along with it great celestial gladness. The heavenly hues appear upon the tender green." In another place he describes the deity of some river, whom he calls Nymphæus, "building his bowers with oil and balm, fulfilled of sweet odour;" by reason of these disadvantages, he seldom makes use of of families with which Homer abounds so much; and few miraculous interpositions are to be found in his poem, though the prophecies of Thomas Lermont commonly called The Rhymers, and a prophetic dream of Wallace himself, are introduced, as well as the ghost of Fawdon, a traitor who had joined Wallace, and whom the latter in a fit of passion had killed. In other respects, the same inextinguishable thirst of blood which Homer ascribes to his hero Achilles is ascribed to Wallace, though in all probability the mind of Wallace was too much enlightened to admit of such sentiments. A vast degree of courage and personal strength are ascribed to him, by means of which the exploits of the whole army are in effect transferred to a single person. As long as he is invested with the command, the Scots are victorious and irresistible; when deprived of it, they are enslaved and undone. After struggling for some time against an inveterate and powerful faction, disdaining to feign submission, he is taken by treachery, and died a martyr to the freedom of his country. The poem, on the whole, is valuable, on account of our being able to trace, by its means, the progress which the English language had made at that time in Scotland: the manners of the Scots in that age: as the favourite dress of green which at that time was the taste of the inhabitants of Scotland, &c. With regard to the authenticity of his relations, it is impossible to suppose any other thing than that they are partly true and partly false. The general thread of the story may undoubtedly be looked upon to be genuine, though embellished with poetical fictions and exaggerations; and his constant appeals to the book already mentioned, though it is now lost, must be looked upon as a strong testimony in his favour: for we cannot suppose that at the time he lived, when we may say that the transactions which he relates were recent, he would have had the confidence to appeal to a book which had not been generally known to have an existence; and its being now lost can never be any argument against it, when we consider the difficulty there was of preserving books before the invention of printing; the confusions in which Scotland was frequently involved; and that the exploits of Wallace, who must be supposed to have been a kind of rival to the great Bruce, could not be so agreeable to the court as those of the more successful hero; and therefore the history of them might be suffered to fall into oblivion, though written in elegant Latin, while a most ridiculous poem in that language on the battle of Bannockburn has been preserved to his day.