My Kingdom

Last summer I returned to Milwaukee to help my grandparents pack to move into an apartment. I went back at 17 to find the house—my kingdom—up for sale. I found another cycle coming to a close, and I found myself separated from what I had once known. I looked at the... 

Thus I order that it shall be done, any laws or ordinances of these my kingdoms to the contrary notwithstanding, as to which or to each of them of my proper motion and certain knowledge, and absolute royal power, such as I choose to use as Queen and Natural Lady of this part, I dispense so far as they touch these presents, leaving them in force and vigour for all other things henceforward. 

But thus is a kingdom secured. You understand that, surely, Edward would say when I begged him to be more discreet himself, for his own honor, even if he cared nothing for his soul. To overcome our enemies, are we not urged to turn the other cheek And then he would slap the backside of the nearest page boy so hard that the wine the lad bore splashed onto the rushes, and I held my peace rather than amuse him by objecting to the blasphemy. 

Oh, I hear Dame Elysabeth very well. The King turned so far toward me that I could not without frank discourtesy escape his eye. And see her, too. I m told Henry of Lancaster was wont to say that my good friend Rivers and the Duchess were the handsomest couple in his kingdom. I ought not to be surprised that they have sired the most beautiful children in mine, but still it astonishes me. Your brother Scales is a fine man too, and learned with it. My brother Antony Oh, sire, have you had word from him lately ... 

It was what I had thought myself, and an honor indeed one I should covet for my brother. But now I had doubts. He is most learned and holy, it is true. And a great knight the greatest in the kingdom, some would say, excepting only yourself. ... 

Some days, if his tutor was absent on Council business, I would enter his chambers unannounced rather than send for him, the better to know how well he studied, and whether his lessons were suited to his tastes as well as to the needs of the kingdom. He and the chaplain and the two boys that studied with him would scramble to their feet and bow, and I would take up the slates and read what they had written. Neds Latin verses were the best, and his understanding of science, his rhetoric, too it was not my love that made them seem so, but his desert. He has all Edward s cleverness, and Elysabeth s, but willingly directs his mind to philosophy and reason, while his faith is true and strong. Sometimes I watched him kneeling before the Host at Mass and my heart sang to see my boy lost so well in the love of God. 

Sweet, do not weep. We have done great things, you and I. We have made a kingdom rich and peaceful. We have rid ourselves of our enemies. And you —gently he turned me toward him— you have borne three fine heirs to the kingdom, and raised daughters almost as beautiful as you that all Europe wants for wives. Where would I be without my queen ... 

So it was that one morning we walked of our own free will from sanctuary, through the Abbey gardens toward the gate. I would not show my fears, and Bess and Cecily must not either, I had warned them we must behave fittingly for what we were, the greatest ladies in the Kingdom. 

I m one of Jehovah s Witnesses, and even that has suffered from my chemical sensitivities. I would go to the Kingdom Hall for Bible study and have to lie on the floor, I was so weak and close to passing out. People would say, Did you have a good sleep And I would say, I wasn t sleeping. If you looked at me and observed me you would think I was, but I hear everything you re saying, I just cannot move or respond to you. ... 

Several years ago I realized I could no longer go into the Kingdom Hall. I do have a telephone hookup now. I can listen but I can t participate, so that is another isolation. Last night I gave a talk. I had to tape it, and the tape was played in the hall. It was exciting for me, but I cried because the normal thing would be for me to be there with my brothers and sisters. 

Healey, Time of My Life, pp. 193-4, 198-9, 224-48, 252 Broadbent, Military and Government, p. 30. Broadbent was Healey s private secretary. For the development of the Ministry of Defence, see Peter Nailor, The Ministry of Defence, 1959-70 , in P. Smith (ed.). Government and the Armed Forces, pp. 9-248, and Adrian Smith, Command and control in postwar Britain defence decision-making in the United Kingdom, 1945—1984 , Twentieth Century British History, 2 (1991), 291-327. 

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