IN 1714 Queen Anne died and the theatres were closed
for six weeks. During their enforced vacation the
acting managers determined to break with Collier, whose
annual £700 was a drain on their resources. They
therefore offered the genial Dicky Steele a share. He
was a good friend to both theatres. "How often,"
wrote Cibber in his Apology, "have we known the most
excellent audiences drawn together at a day's warning,
by the influence of a single Tatler, in a season when our
best endeavours without it could not defray the charge
of the performance."

The new licence, which was obtained by Steele himself
through the Duke of Marlborough, ran as follows:

" GEORGE R.

"WHEREAS Richard Steele, Esqre, ¹ Mr Robert Wilks,
Mr Colley Cibber, Mr Thomas Doggett ² and Mr Barton
Booth are represented to Us by their long experience
and other good qualities to be fitly Qualify'd to have the
Care and Management of Out Company of Comedians
under the direction of the Chamberlain of Our House-
hold, for the time being, We therefore reposing Especial
Trust and Confidence in the said Richard Steele, Robert
Wilks, Colley Cibber, Thomas Doggett and Barton
Booth, do hereby give and grant unto them full Power,
Licence, and Authority, to form, constitute and establish

-80-