I have been informed that in Winchester College library, in a 4to. volume, there are some poems by Mr. William Basse; but the title of the volume I have not been able to obtain.

Mr. Collier concludes his remarks, with a supposition that Basse “was a musical composer, as well as writer of verses.”  I believe Mr. C. to be right in this notion, from a passage which I find in the commencement of the 2nd Part of “The Youth in the Boat,” where, alluding to “sweete Calliope,” he remarks:—­

  “A Muse to whom in former dayes
    I was extremely bound,
  When I did sing in Musiques prayse,
    And Voyces heau’nly sound.”

And from the circumstance also of one of the Ballads in the Roxburghe Collection, “Wit’s never good till ’tis bought,” being sung to the tune of “Basse’s Carreere.”  Mr. Collier has reprinted this in his elegant Book of Roxburghe Ballads, 4to. 1847, p. 264., and says:—­

    “The tune to which is sung, ‘Basse’s Carreere,’ means of course,
    the tune mentioned in Walton’s Angler, ’The Hunter in his
    Career,’ composed, as he states by William Basse.”

I have a distant recollection of having seen other pieces in some of our early musical works, composed by Basse.  Sir Harris Nicolas, also, in the “Life of Walton,” prefixed to his edition of The Complete Angler, p. cxx., says:—­

    “He (Walton) appears to have been fond of poetry and music....
    and was intimate with Basse, an eminent composer, in whose
    science he took great interest.”

I fear that these notices of William Basse, thus collected together from scattered sources, will not afford much information to Mr. Collier, beyond what he is already possessed of; but they may possibly interest others, who may not be quite so conversant with our early writers as that gentleman is known to be.  I shall feel much gratified and obliged if he or any other of your correspondents will add any further notices or communications respecting one who may possibly have been personally known to Shakspeare, but whose name, at all events, will be handed down to posterity in connection with that of our immortal bard.

THOMAS CORSER,

Stand Rectory, Feb. 22. 1850.

* * * * *

JOHN STOWE.

In the Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. vii., new series, p. 48., is a clever notice of the life and works of the venerable John Stowe.  It says:—­

    “The biographers have affirmed that he quitted his trade; but
    there is nothing to authorize that assertion in what he says
    himself upon the subject.”

In the preface to an edition of the Summarie for the Year {298} 1575, now in my possession, Stowe says:—­