DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.65478#0132
says that the Duke, “loud and coarse both in mirth and anger, was,
perhaps, under the outward show of boisterous frankness, the most dis-
honest man in the whole Cabal.”
The Queenes Closett, also called the Cabal Closet, and the AI cove Closet.
It is probable that during the visit of Queen Catherine to Ham
House, her bed was placed in the alcove which is slightly raised above
the floor in this room. Such was indeed the general custom at that time.
Miss Strickland, in her account of Catherine of Braganza’s illness in 1663,
says that the French Ambassador and an envoy from France, who had
been desired to condole with the Queen on her illness, were introduced
by King Charles himself into the ruelie at the back of the alcove in which
Catherine’s bed was placed. Miss Strickland continues : “ The ruelle
was the space or alley in the alcove between the bed and the wall, which
was approached by confidential attendants, or persons who were honoured
with a private interview, through a small door near the bed’s head, com-
municating with a secret passage and staircase. The proverbial expression
of back-stairs intrigues has reference to this arrangement.” 1
The wall at the back of the alcove in the Queen’s Closet at Ham
House is hung with damask, arranged in panels. One of these panels
conceals a small door, from which a narrow passage and a dark staircase
communicate directly with the Yellow Satin Room near the head of the
Grand Staircase. By this means the principal staircase can be easily
reached without a progress through the State Apartments.
The ceiling of the Queen’s Closet is painted, and may have been the
work of Verrio the Neapolitan artist employed in the royal palaces by
both Charles II. and James II. The floor of the closet, like that of the
adjoining Cabal Room, is of parquet, inlaid in different colours, and in
several places the inlaid woods take the form of the Duchess of Lauder-
dale’s coronet and initials. In 1679 this floor was protected by a leather
cover.
Two small “fixed Landskips” are inserted into the wall above the
fire-place, and the arch round the alcove is richly worked with wreaths and
other devices in white plaster, the Duchess of Lauderdale’s coronet form-
ing the centre. Within the alcove are the two crimson and gold sleeping
chairs which were used by the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale.
1 Queens of England, vol. viii., p. 350, note.
44
perhaps, under the outward show of boisterous frankness, the most dis-
honest man in the whole Cabal.”
The Queenes Closett, also called the Cabal Closet, and the AI cove Closet.
It is probable that during the visit of Queen Catherine to Ham
House, her bed was placed in the alcove which is slightly raised above
the floor in this room. Such was indeed the general custom at that time.
Miss Strickland, in her account of Catherine of Braganza’s illness in 1663,
says that the French Ambassador and an envoy from France, who had
been desired to condole with the Queen on her illness, were introduced
by King Charles himself into the ruelie at the back of the alcove in which
Catherine’s bed was placed. Miss Strickland continues : “ The ruelle
was the space or alley in the alcove between the bed and the wall, which
was approached by confidential attendants, or persons who were honoured
with a private interview, through a small door near the bed’s head, com-
municating with a secret passage and staircase. The proverbial expression
of back-stairs intrigues has reference to this arrangement.” 1
The wall at the back of the alcove in the Queen’s Closet at Ham
House is hung with damask, arranged in panels. One of these panels
conceals a small door, from which a narrow passage and a dark staircase
communicate directly with the Yellow Satin Room near the head of the
Grand Staircase. By this means the principal staircase can be easily
reached without a progress through the State Apartments.
The ceiling of the Queen’s Closet is painted, and may have been the
work of Verrio the Neapolitan artist employed in the royal palaces by
both Charles II. and James II. The floor of the closet, like that of the
adjoining Cabal Room, is of parquet, inlaid in different colours, and in
several places the inlaid woods take the form of the Duchess of Lauder-
dale’s coronet and initials. In 1679 this floor was protected by a leather
cover.
Two small “fixed Landskips” are inserted into the wall above the
fire-place, and the arch round the alcove is richly worked with wreaths and
other devices in white plaster, the Duchess of Lauderdale’s coronet form-
ing the centre. Within the alcove are the two crimson and gold sleeping
chairs which were used by the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale.
1 Queens of England, vol. viii., p. 350, note.
44