poliphilo

So....

Arlington House, the site of Arlington National Cemetery was named after a property belonging to Robert E Lee's wife's family, which, in turn, was named for the English politician Henry Bennet, first Earl of Arlington, who derived his title from the town of Harlington in Middlesex.

Phew.

And thanks to the two LJ friends who put me on the right track.

Bennet was your actual, typical, malleable, self-serving politician- and a member of the original Cabal- the inner council that advised and/or manipulated and/or was manipulated by Charles II (him again). The word cabal- meaning something like "secret(ive) group of plotters"- predates this particular gang of five, but check out their initials. They were Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington and Lauderdale. Needless to say, eyebrows were raised and noses knowingly tapped. Bennet held various offices of state, managed Charles mistresses for him- and wore a strip of black plaster across the bridge of his nose to conceal- or advertise- a wound received at Andover during the Civil War. Apart from his own advancement he doesn't seem to have achieved anything very notable in public life. Charles liked him because he was personable and witty...