Cibber is silent upon the subject; because, it has been suggested, the Chamberlain had been instrumental in obtaining him the appointment of poet laureate, which could hardly have devolved upon him in right of his poetic qualifications.
Nevertheless, Cibber had been active in organising a form of opposition to the authority of the Chamberlain and the Master of the Revels, which, although it seemed of a trifling kind, had yet its importance.

For it turned upon the question of fees.

The holders of the patents considered themselves sole judges of the plays proper to be acted in their theatres.

The Master of the Revels claimed his fee of forty shillings for each play produced.

The managers, it seems, were at liberty to represent new plays without consulting him, and to spare him the trouble of reading the same--provided always they paid him his fees.