[153] There is some mistake in this date. On November 20, 1705, the Bassett Table was acted for the first time.
[154] "Never acted there before. At the desire of severall Ladies of Quality. By her Majesty's Company of Comedians. At the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket, this present Saturday being the 7th of December [1706] will be presented a Comedy, called The Tender Husband or the Accomplished Fools." The Play was repeated at the Haymarket Theatre on Monday, Dec. 9th, and on Feb. 25th 1707, "for the benefit of Mrs. Oldfield" (Daily Courant passim).
[155] Chancery Proceedings, Zincke, 1714-58, No. 1424.
[156] Robert Aston brought an action against Steele for debt in Michaelmas term, 1716.
[157] The following memorandum, in Steele's writing, is among the Blenheim MSS.: "Whereas Sr R: S: has made a Sale of His income and interest in a Patent of the" ... (some words illegible) "an absolute sale in Words yet it was never intended nor should be ever insisted upon as a sale in fact, but that when the money lent by Mr Minshull should be repaid to Him, the Instruments of Sale and all other deeds or securities should be rescinded and made void and ineffectual in what proper manner Sr Richard Steele should require either before or after the time limited in the said instruments."
[158] Reason was landlord of the house in York Buildings where Steele had his Censorium, and he brought an action for debt against Steele in 1718.
[159] Chancery Proceedings, Sewell, 1714-58, No. 300.
[162] On the 17th June, 1723, an indenture was mode between Steele and Woolley, reciting that there then remained due to Woolley £900, the residue of a greater sum for which one-fifth part of the profits of the theatre was mortgaged by Steele to Minshull, by whom it was assigned to Charles Gery, and by him to Woolley (page 430). This original mortgaged deed for £1200 Woolley delivered to Steele, upon payment of £300 on delivery, and the assignment to Woolley, his executors, &c., of the fifth part of the stock, for the better security of the payment of the remaining £900; and on the 17th July Steele signed a note upon Richard Castleman and every other treasurer of the Company of Comedians at Drury Lane, requiring each of them yearly on the 23rd January to pay to Woolley or his order £200 out of the profits coming due to Steele, until the £900 with interest at five per cent., should be fully paid.