CABINET is also used in speaking of the more select and secret councils of a prince or administration. Thus we say, the secrets, the intrigues of the cabinet. To avoid the inconveniences of a numerous council, the policy of Italy and practice of France first introduced cabinet councils. King Charles I. is charged with first establishing this usage in England. Besides his privy council, that prince erected a kind of cabinet council, or junta, under the denomination of a council of state; composed of Archbishop Laud, the earl of Strafford, and Lord Collington, with the secretaries of state. Yet some pretend to find the substance of a cabinet council of much greater antiquity, and even allowed by parliament, which anciently settled a quorum of persons most confided in, without whose presence no arduous matter was to be determined; giving them power to act without consulting the rest of the council. As long since as the 28th of Henry III. a charter passed in affirmation of the ancient rights of the kingdom; which provided, that four great men, chosen by common consent, who were to be conversators of the kingdom, among other things, should see to the disposing of moneys given by parliament, and appropriated to particular uses; and parliaments were to be summoned as they should advise. But even of these four, any two made a quorum; and generally the chief justice of England and chancellor were of the number of the conversators. Matth. Par. 28. Henry III. In the first
of Henry VI. the parliament provides, that the quorum for the privy council be six, or four at least; and that in all weighty considerations, the dukes of Bedford and Gloucester, the king's uncles, should be present; which seems to be erecting a cabinet by law.