The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21). Volume VIII. The Age of Dryden. V. The Restoration Drama. § 4. Dramatic Companies Formed immediately before the Restoration. Affairs were now moving rapidly towards the restoration of king Charles. General Monck arrived in London in the first days of February, 1659/60, and one John Rhodes, a bookseller and sometime keeper of the wardrobe of the king’s company at Blackfriars, obtained a licence from the existing authorities for the formation of a dramatic company. A second company gathered at the Red Bull, a third at Salisbury court in Whitefriars, and Sir Henry Herbert, master of the revels, awoke to the duties (and prospective emoluments) of an office for long years held by him in hope and abeyance.   4