BARON, ROBERT, a dramatic author, who lived during the reign of Charles I. and the protectorship of Oliver Cromwell. He received the earlier parts of his education at Cambridge, after which he became a member of the honourable society of Gray's Inn. During his residence at the university, he wrote a novel called the Cyprian Academy, in which he introduced the two first of the dramatic pieces mentioned below. The third of them is a much more regular and perfect play, and was probably written when the author had attained a ripe age. The names of them are, 1. Decorum Dona, a masque. 2. Gripus and Hegio, a pasto-
ral. 3. Mirza, a tragedy. Mr Baron had a great intimacy with the celebrated Mr James Howell, the great traveller, in whose collections of Letters there is one to this gentleman, who was at that time at Paris. To Mr Howell in particular, and to all the ladies and gentlewomen in England in general, he has dedicated his romance.