William Basse
Encyclopedia
William Basse was an English poet. He was a follower of Edmund Spenser
. He is now remembered mostly for a eulogy he wrote about Shakespeare.
, Oxfordshire
, and educated at Lord Williams's School
. His Great Brittaines Sunnesset was published at Oxford, and he had intimate relations with two great Oxfordshire houses. He is described by Anthony à Wood in 1638 as 'of Moreton
, near Thame, in Oxfordshire
, sometime a retainer to the Lord Wenman
of Thame Park'. From the references made in Basse's poems to Francis, Lord Norreys, it has been inferred that the poet was at one time also attached to his household at Ricot or Rycote, Oxfordshire.
The long interval of fifty-one years between the production of the first and last poems bearing Basse's signature led J. P. Collier to conjecture that there were two poets of the same name, and he attributed to an elder William Basse the published in 1602, and to a younger William Basse all those published later.
, called 'Great Brittaines Sunnes-set, bewailed with a Shower of Teares, by William Basse,' was issued by Joseph Barnes at Oxford. It was dedicated by the author 'to his honourable master, Sir Richard Wenman, knight,' and was reproduced at Oxford by W. H. Allnutt in 1872.
No other volume of Basse's poems was printed in his lifetime, but two manuscript collections, prepared for the press, are still extant. Of these one bears the title of 'Polyhymnia,' and has never been printed. The only copy of it now known belonged to Richard Heber
, and afterwards to Thomas Corser
; on the fly-leaf is the autograph of Francis, Lord Norreys, to whom the opening verses are addressed, and to whose sister, Bridget, countess of Lindsey, the collection is dedicated. Another manuscript of 'Polyhymnia,' described by William Cole
in his manuscript 'Athenae Cantab.' and now lost, differed materially from the Corser manuscript. The second collection left by Basse in manuscript came to F. W. Cosens; it consists of three long pastoral poems, of which the first is dedicated to Sir Richard Wenman; bears the date 1653, and was printed for the first time in J. P. Collier's 'Miscellaneous Tracts,' in 1872. To it is prefixed a poem addressed to Basse, by Ralph Bathurst
, who compares the author to an 'aged oak'. Bathurst's verses were printed in Thomas Warton
's Life of Bathurst (1761), p. 288, with the inscription 'To Mr. W. Basse upon the intended publication of his poems, January 13, 1651.'
Basse is best known by his occasional verse, particularly by his Epitaph on Shakespeare. The poem is in the form of a sonnet, and was first attributed to John Donne
, among whose poems it was printed in 1633. In the edition of Shakespeare's poems issued in 1640 it is subscribed 'W. B.,' and Ben Jonson
refers to it in his poem on Shakespeare prefixed to the folio of 1623. In a manuscript of the reign of James I in the British Museum (MS. Lansd. 777, fo. 676), the lines are signed 'Wm. Basse.'
Basse also wrote a commendatory poem for Michael Baret's Hipponomie, or the Vineyard of Horsemanship (1618), and he has been identified with the 'W. B.' who contributed verses to Philip Massinger
's Bondman (1624), although William Browne has also been claimed as their author. In Izaak Walton
's Compleat Angler the piscator remarks, 'I'll promise you I'll sing a song that was lately made at my request by Mr. William Basse, one that hath made the choice songs of the "Hunter in his Career" and of "Tom of Bedlam," and many others of note; and this that I will sing is in praise of Angling.' Basse's 'Angler's Song,' beginning 'As inward love breeds outward talk,' then follows. Of the other two songs mentioned by Walton, a unique copy of 'Maister Basse, his careere, or the new hunting. To a new Court tune,' is in the Pepys collection at Cambridge; it is reprinted in Wit and Drollery (1682), p. 64, and in Old Ballads (1725), ii. 196. The tune is given in the Skene MS. preserved in the Advocates' Library
, Edinburgh, and a ballad in the Bagford collection in the British Museum, entitled 'Hubert's Ghost,' is written 'to the tune of Basse's Career.' Basse's second ballad, 'Tom of Bedlam,' has been identified by Sir Harris Nicolas in his edition of Walton's 'Angler,' with a song of the same name in Percy's Reliques,' ii. 357; but many other ballads bear the same title. In 1636 Basse contributed a poem to the Annalia Dubrensia.
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
. He is now remembered mostly for a eulogy he wrote about Shakespeare.
Life
He was born at ThameThame
Thame is a town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about southwest of the Buckinghamshire town of Aylesbury. It derives its toponym from the River Thame which flows past the north side of the town....
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, and educated at Lord Williams's School
Lord Williams's School
Lord Williams's School is a co-educational secondary school in Thame, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. It is a comprehensive school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18...
. His Great Brittaines Sunnesset was published at Oxford, and he had intimate relations with two great Oxfordshire houses. He is described by Anthony à Wood in 1638 as 'of Moreton
Moreton, Thame, Oxfordshire
Moreton is a hamlet southwest of Thame in Oxfordshire, England.-History:Moreton has been in existence as long as Thame, being mentioned with it in the Domesday Book of 1086....
, near Thame, in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, sometime a retainer to the Lord Wenman
Richard Wenman, 1st Viscount Wenman
Richard Wenman, 1st Viscount Wenman was an English soldier and Member of Parliament, with a title in the Peerage of Ireland.-Life:...
of Thame Park'. From the references made in Basse's poems to Francis, Lord Norreys, it has been inferred that the poet was at one time also attached to his household at Ricot or Rycote, Oxfordshire.
The long interval of fifty-one years between the production of the first and last poems bearing Basse's signature led J. P. Collier to conjecture that there were two poets of the same name, and he attributed to an elder William Basse the published in 1602, and to a younger William Basse all those published later.
Works
In 1602 two poems by William Bas were published in London. The one was entitled 'Sword and Buckler, or Serving Man's Defence;' the other 'Three Pastoral Elegies of Anander, Anetor, and Muridella.' The former was reprinted in J. P. Collier's Illustrations of Early English Popular Literature, vol. ii., in 1864. In 1613 an elegy on Henry Frederick, Prince of WalesHenry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
, called 'Great Brittaines Sunnes-set, bewailed with a Shower of Teares, by William Basse,' was issued by Joseph Barnes at Oxford. It was dedicated by the author 'to his honourable master, Sir Richard Wenman, knight,' and was reproduced at Oxford by W. H. Allnutt in 1872.
No other volume of Basse's poems was printed in his lifetime, but two manuscript collections, prepared for the press, are still extant. Of these one bears the title of 'Polyhymnia,' and has never been printed. The only copy of it now known belonged to Richard Heber
Richard Heber
Richard Heber , English book-collector, the half-brother of Reginald Heber, was born in London.As an undergraduate at Brasenose College, Oxford, he began to collect a purely classical library, but his taste broadening, he became interested in early English drama and literature, and began his...
, and afterwards to Thomas Corser
Thomas Corser
Thomas Corser was a British literary scholar and Church of England clergyman. He was the editor of Collectanea Anglo-Poetica.-Life:...
; on the fly-leaf is the autograph of Francis, Lord Norreys, to whom the opening verses are addressed, and to whose sister, Bridget, countess of Lindsey, the collection is dedicated. Another manuscript of 'Polyhymnia,' described by William Cole
William Cole (antiquary)
William Cole , was a Cambridgeshire clergyman and antiquary.Cole was born in Little Abington, Cambridgeshire, the son of a well-to-do farmer...
in his manuscript 'Athenae Cantab.' and now lost, differed materially from the Corser manuscript. The second collection left by Basse in manuscript came to F. W. Cosens; it consists of three long pastoral poems, of which the first is dedicated to Sir Richard Wenman; bears the date 1653, and was printed for the first time in J. P. Collier's 'Miscellaneous Tracts,' in 1872. To it is prefixed a poem addressed to Basse, by Ralph Bathurst
Ralph Bathurst
Ralph Bathurst was an English theologian and physician.-Early life:He was born in Hothorpe, Northamptonshire in 1620 and educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry.He graduated with a B.A...
, who compares the author to an 'aged oak'. Bathurst's verses were printed in Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. From 1785 to 1790 he was the Poet Laureate of England...
's Life of Bathurst (1761), p. 288, with the inscription 'To Mr. W. Basse upon the intended publication of his poems, January 13, 1651.'
Basse is best known by his occasional verse, particularly by his Epitaph on Shakespeare. The poem is in the form of a sonnet, and was first attributed to John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
, among whose poems it was printed in 1633. In the edition of Shakespeare's poems issued in 1640 it is subscribed 'W. B.,' and Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems...
refers to it in his poem on Shakespeare prefixed to the folio of 1623. In a manuscript of the reign of James I in the British Museum (MS. Lansd. 777, fo. 676), the lines are signed 'Wm. Basse.'
Basse also wrote a commendatory poem for Michael Baret's Hipponomie, or the Vineyard of Horsemanship (1618), and he has been identified with the 'W. B.' who contributed verses to Philip Massinger
Philip Massinger
Philip Massinger was an English dramatist. His finely plotted plays, including A New Way to Pay Old Debts, The City Madam and The Roman Actor, are noted for their satire and realism, and their political and social themes.-Early life:The son of Arthur Massinger or Messenger, he was baptized at St....
's Bondman (1624), although William Browne has also been claimed as their author. In Izaak Walton
Izaak Walton
Izaak Walton was an English writer. Best known as the author of The Compleat Angler, he also wrote a number of short biographies which have been collected under the title of Walton's Lives.-Biography:...
's Compleat Angler the piscator remarks, 'I'll promise you I'll sing a song that was lately made at my request by Mr. William Basse, one that hath made the choice songs of the "Hunter in his Career" and of "Tom of Bedlam," and many others of note; and this that I will sing is in praise of Angling.' Basse's 'Angler's Song,' beginning 'As inward love breeds outward talk,' then follows. Of the other two songs mentioned by Walton, a unique copy of 'Maister Basse, his careere, or the new hunting. To a new Court tune,' is in the Pepys collection at Cambridge; it is reprinted in Wit and Drollery (1682), p. 64, and in Old Ballads (1725), ii. 196. The tune is given in the Skene MS. preserved in the Advocates' Library
Advocates' Library
The Advocates' Library is a law library belonging to the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, founded in 1682. Until 1925 it was the deposit library for Scotland, after which the role was taken on by the National Library of Scotland....
, Edinburgh, and a ballad in the Bagford collection in the British Museum, entitled 'Hubert's Ghost,' is written 'to the tune of Basse's Career.' Basse's second ballad, 'Tom of Bedlam,' has been identified by Sir Harris Nicolas in his edition of Walton's 'Angler,' with a song of the same name in Percy's Reliques,' ii. 357; but many other ballads bear the same title. In 1636 Basse contributed a poem to the Annalia Dubrensia.
Works
- Great Brittaines Sunnes-set, bewailed with a shower of tears (1613)
- Maister Basse his Careere, or The new Hunting of the Hare To a new Court tune (1620)
- The Pastorals and other Workes of W. B., Never before imprinted Oxford, 1653. Ed. (Oxford, 1870) by J. P. Collier
- The Poetical Works of William Basse (1893) edited by R. Warwick Bond