HERMAN DE VALENCIENNES, French poet, was born at Valenciennes, of good parentage. He became a priest and wrote the Histoire de la Bible, which includes a separate poem on the Assumption of the Virgin. The work is generally known as Le Roman de sapience, the name arising from a copyist's error in the first line of the poem : "Comens de sapiense, ce est la cremors de Deu" the first word being miswritten in one ms. Romens, and in an other Romanz. Indeed, the work has the form of an ordinary romance, and cannot be regarded as a translation. He selects Biblical stories to suit his purpose, and adds freely from legendary sources, displaying considerable art in the use of his materials. This scriptural poem, very popular in its day, mentions Henry II. of England as already dead, and must therefore be posterior to I189.