In 1626, however, John Williams and Thomas Dixon (what had become of John Cotton we do not know) made an attempt to secure a license from King Charles, then newly come to the throne, to erect an amphitheatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Apparently they so worded the proposed grant as to authorize them to present in their amphitheatre not only spectacles, but dramatic performances and animal-baitings as well, with the power to restrain all other places of amusement for one day in each week, on giving two days' warning. A "bill" to this effect was drawn up and submitted to Thomas Coventry, the Lord Keeper, who examined it hastily, and dispatched it to Lord Conway with the following letter:[690] _My very good Lord_,--I have perused this Bill, and do call to mind that about three or four years past when I was Attorney General, a patent for an Amphitheatre was in hand to have passed; but upon this sudden, without search of my papers, I cannot give your lordship any account of the true cause wherefore it did not pass, nor whether that and this do vary in substance: neither am I apt upon a sudden to take impertinent exceptions to anything that is to pass, much less to a thing that is recommended by so good a friend. But if upon perusal of my papers which I had while I was Attorney, or upon more serious thoughts, I shall observe anything worthy to be represented to His Majesty, or to the Council, I shall then acquaint your lordship; and in the meantime I would be loath to be the author of a motion to His Majesty to stay it: but if you find His Majesty at fitting leisure, to move him that he will give leave to think of it in this sort as I have written, it may do well; and I assure your lordship, unless I find matter of more consequence than I observe on this sudden, it is not like to be stayed. And so I rest your lordship's very assured to do you service, THO. COVENTRYE, CH. CANBURY, 12 _August_, 1626. [Footnote 690: Collier, _op. cit._, I, 443.] Apparently some very influential person was urging the passage of the bill. But the scheme soon evoked the bitter opposition of the various troupes of players, and of the owners of the various theatres and other places of amusement. An echo of the quarrel is found in Marmion's _Holland's Leaguer_, II, iii: Twill dead all my device in making matches, My plots of architecture, and erecting New amphitheatres to draw custom From playhouses once a week, and so pull A curse upon my head from the poor scoundrels.[691] [Footnote 691: _The Dramatic Works of Shackerley Marmion_, in _Dramatists of the Restoration_, p. 37. Fleay (_A Biographical Chronicle of the English Drama_, II, 66) suggests that the impostors Agurtes and Autolichus are meant to satirize Williams and Dixon respectively.]