Robert BARON, Esq
This Author was a young Gentleman, bred first at Cambridge, and afterwards brought up in the worthy Society of Grays-Inn: During his abode there, he writ a Romance called The Cy∣prian Page 11 Academy, printed octavo Lond. 1647. He dedicated it to the famous Traveller Mr. James Howel, in particular, and to the Ladies and Gentlewomen of England, in general. In his Romance, are included two Dramaticks, which Mr. Kirkman has inserted in his Catalogue, tho' they are not entire Tracts of themselves, nor of any signal Eminence; but since they have been mention'd in former Catalogues, I shall not omit them.
Deorum Dona, a Masque presented before Flaminius and Clorinda, King and Queen of Cy∣prus, at their Regal Palace in Nicosia. Part of this piece is borrow'd from Mr. Waller's Poem to the King on his Navy.
Gripus and Hegio, or The Passionate Lovers; a Pastoral, acted by the Lady Julio's Servants, for the Entertainment of Flaminius. This Play consists but of three Acts, and is borrow'd very much from Waller's Poems, and Webster's Dutchess of Malsy; which is excusable only on the account of the Author's Youth, he being but 17 Years of age, when he compos'd that Ro∣mance, which was the reason that it was so highly commended by twelve Copies of Verses writ by his Friends, and printed with his Book.
Mirza, a Tragedy, really acted in Persia, in the last Age: Illustrated with Historical Anno∣tations, printed octavo Lond.— and dedicated to his Majesty, by a Copy of Verses. This Play is much beyond either of the former, and has the repute of a good Play. It is commended by five Copies of Verses, written by the Author's Cambridge-Friends. On this very Subject, the Page 12 famous Denham, had before writ a Play called The Sophy,
The Author seems to have propos'd for his pattern the famous Catiline, writ by Ben John∣son: and has in several places not only hit the model of his Scenes: but even imitated the Language tolerably, for a young Writer. Who∣ever pleases to compare the Ghost of Emir∣hamze-mirza, with that of Scilla, may easily see his Imitation, but that being too long to transcribe, I shall set down the first words of Catiline, in that admirable Play; and after∣wards those of Abbas, and then submit my opi∣nion to my Reader's judgment.
This is the first Author taken notice of, ei∣ther by Mr. Phillipsb in his Theatrum Poe∣tarum, or his Transcriber Mr. Winstanley, in his Lives of the English Poets:c and though neither of them give any other Account of our Author, but what they collected from my for∣mer Catalogue printed 1680. yet through a mistake in the method of that Catalogue, they have ascrib'd many Anonymous Plays to the fore∣going Writers, which belonged not to them: and thus have committed mistakes in almost all the Dramatick Writers they have handled, To give an Instance in this Author: they both ascribe to him Don Quixote, or The Knight of the ill-favoured Countenance, a Comedy, I know not whence they had their Intelligence: but I never heard or read any such Play, nor do I believe there is any other Book which bears that title, except the fam'd Romance, written by the admirable Pen of that famous Spanish Author, Miguel de Cervantes. They have like∣wise ascribed several other Dramatick Pieces to this Author, which I dare be confident, are Page 14 not of his Writing; as Dick Scorner, Destruction of Jerusalem, Marriage of Wit and Science, Masques, and Interludes; and have omitted two other Pieces written by him. viz. Poems, octavo, and a Book intituled, An Apology for Paris. Neither do I believe Mr. Phillips's Ac∣count, that any of his Pieces appear'd on the Stage. I shall conclude all with the following Anagram, written by his Friend Mr. John Quarles, sometimes of St. Peter's College in Cambridge.
- Ana∣gram
- ROBERTUS BARONUS.
- Ana∣gram
- RARUS AB ORBE NOTUS.
Rarus, haud cuiquam peperit Natura secundum. Notus es, & scriptis (Baron) ab orbe tuis.
