Your correspondent, the Rev. T. Corser, in his note on William Basse,
says, that he has been informed that there are, in Winchester College
Library, in a 4to. volume, some poems of that writer. I have the
pleasure of assuring him that his information is correct, and that
they are the "Three Pastoral Elegies" mentioned by Ritson. The
title-page runs thus:--
"Three Pastoral Elegies of Anander, Anetor, and Muridella, by
William Bas. Printed by V.S. for J.B., and are to be sold
at his shop in Fleet Street, at the sign of the Great Turk's
Head, 1602."
Then follows a dedication, "To the Honourable {349} and Virtuous
Lady, the Lady Tasburgh;" from which dedication it appears that
these Pastoral Elegies were among the early efforts of his Muse. The
author, after making excuses for not having repaid her Ladyship's
encouragement earlier, says,--
"Finding my abilitie too little to make the meanest
satisfaction of so great a principall as is due to so many
favourable curtesies, I am bold to tende your Ladyship this
unworthy interest, wherewithal I will put in good securitie,
that as soone as time shall relieve the necessitie of my young
invention, I will disburse my Muse to the uttermost mite of
my power, to make some more acceptable composition with your
bounty. In the mean space, living without hope to be ever
sufficient inough to yeeld your worthinesse the smallest
halfe of your due, I doe only desire to leave your ladyship
in assurance--
"That when increase of age and learning sets
My mind in wealthi'r state than now it is,
I'll pay a greater portion of my debts,
Or mortgage you a better Muse than this;
Till then, no kinde forbearance is amisse,
While, though I owe more than I can make good,
This is inough, to shew how faine I woo'd,