ARLINGTON COMPLETE PEERAGE 217 1662-74. Cr. D.C.L. Oxford 28 Sep. 1663; On 14 Mar. 1664/5, he wascr. BARON ARLINGTON of Arlington, Midx., (") with a spec, rem., failing his issue male, to the heirs of his body. (") Postmaster Gen. 1665 till his death. In 1670 he was one of the five principal members of the Council for foreign affairs Q to whom alone the King revealed his policy. He was also one of those sent to Holland to treat with Louis XIV concerning a peace with the States. On 22 Apr. 1672, he was cr. BARON ARLING- TON of Arlington, Midx., VISCOUNT THETFORD, Norfolk, and EARL OF ARLINGTON, with a similar spec, rem., {^) and in default of heirs of his body, with a further rem. to his br., Sir John Bennet, K.B., abovenamed, and the heirs male of his body. El. K.G. 1 5, and installed (by proxy) 22 June 1672. Lord Chamberlain of the Household from 1674, and Grand Master of Freemasons from 1679, till death. Lord Lieut. of Suffolk 1681-84, during the minority of the Duke of Grafton. He (") The arms of Bennet, Earl of Arlington, were Gules with a bezant between three demi-lions silver, bearings which were granted by Camden to Sir Thomas Bennet, the Lord Mayor, {ex inform. Oswald Barron.) V.G. C") Dugdale, in his MS. additions to his Baronage, states that this patent was surrendered before the granting of that of 1672, but this is apparently a mistake, as he is styled Baron Arlington in the 2nd patent. G.E.C. For the curious reason alleged for his not caring to be called Lord Bennet, see Cal. State Papers Dom., 1664-65, pp. 247, 257. " Sec. Bennet will not have his own name in his title to avoid any appearance of evil in his future lady. Lady Bennet being of too famous reputation in the world. " V.G. C) What Macaulay calls " the whimsical coincidence " of the initial letters of their names, i.e. Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington and Lauderdale, forming the Arabic word " Cabal " has led to its being inseparably associated with them. Though 1673 '^ ^^^ earliest date given for the use of the word in Murray's New Eng. Diet., it occurs as early as 27 Apr. 1660, and probably much earlier, being said to be derived from the Hebrew word " Kabbala. " Of its members, says Hume (vol. vi, p. 9, edit. 1848), "Arlington was the least dangerous either by his vices or his talents. His judgment was sound, though his capacity was but moderate, and his intentions were good, though he wanted courage and integrity to persevere in them. Clifford and he were secretly Catholics. " Lord Clarendon gives him a somewhat contemptible character as being " unversed in any business, " one " who had not the faculties to get himself beloved, " ^c. " Long with the royal wanderer Tie roved, And firm in all the turns of fortune proved. Such ancient service and desert so large Well claimed the royal household for his charge. " {Absalom and Achitopitel, pt. ii) He figures as ' Eliab ' in the poem, and the next lines refer to his daughter being allied " To David's stock, and made young Othniel's bride, " ' David ' being Charles II, and ' Othniel ' Grafton. " Lord Arlington speaks well and hath pretty slight superficial parts I believe, " writes Pepys, on 24 Feb. 1666/7. V.G. C) It is difficult to account for the extensive limitation in 1665. As to that in 1672, the King had probably in view the match of the little heiress (expectant) with his own son, which took place about three months later. 29
