Group of politicians, the English king Charles II's counsellors 166773, whose initials made up the word by coincidence Clifford (Thomas Clifford 16301673), Ashley (Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of
Shaftesbury),
Buckingham (George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham), Arlington (Henry Bennett, 1st Earl of Arlington 16181685), and
Lauderdale (John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale). The word cabal, meaning association of intriguers, is now applied to any faction that works in secret for private or political ends.
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