It is seen in 16th and 17th century music, for both vocal and instrumental pieces and improvisations.
It most likely comes from reciting formulas used to perform Orlando Furioso, an epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto.
61, which begins "Ruggier, qual sempre fui, tal esser voglio".
Harmonically the Ruggiero bass is major, generally in G, and has four short phrases.
[1] This scheme is frequently used for declaiming other texts which use an ottava rima meter.