Elizabeth to ensure the future security of England-the mother of all English men and women including Elizabeth herself-before she dies: our humble suite . . . is, that yo re motherly affection wilbe such towards yo re contry, and ours; towards the Comon mother of us all, as that the foundacon of her prosperitie and flourishinge estate, may by yo u in yo re glorious and memorable raigne, be soe surely layed, that noe storme may ever be able to overthrowe hir, no tempest to shake her. (Anon. 1995, 56) England is also referred to as a nursing mother in the View when Eudoxus expresses astonishment that the Old English should want to adopt Irish surnames: "Coulde they euer Conceaue anye suche divillishe dislike of theire owne naturall Contries as that they woulde be ashamed of her name and bite at the dug from which they sucked liffe" (Spenser 1949, 116).In New English rhetoric on Ireland, negative gendering co-exists with depictions of Ireland as vulnerable, marking a transition from land-as-enemy to land-as-victim. The representation of England as a mother suggests nurturing, security, and loyalty. No doubt the shape and juxtaposition of the two land masses-which on a map appear like child and embracing parent-aided this metaphor. 5 The construction of Ireland as a sister to England similarly casts a positive light on the relationship and suggests familial fidelity as a strong bond between the two. T. C. warns that if Elizabeth does not follow his advice then she cannot rely on the loyalty of Ireland and will forego the strong familial bond that should exist between them: "Your crowne of Ireland shall never stand steedye upon yore head: nor England shall never stand assured to have Ireland a faithfull neighbour: much lesse a kinde and lovinge sister" (Anon. 1995, 71). A similar feminization of the land occurs in Thomas Blenerhasset's A Direction for the Plantation in Ulster with his plea to Prince Henry that English subjects colonize the desolate county of Ulster:Dispoyled, she presents her-selfe (as it were) in a ragged sad sabled Robe . . . Fayre England, she hath more people then she can well sustaine: goodly Vlster for want of people vnmanured, her pleasant fieldes and rich groundes, they remaine if not desolate, worsse. (Blenerhasset 1610, A2r-A2v) Again, as evident in the "Supplication", the View, and Davies's A Discovery of the True Causes, Ireland is depicted as a country full of potential which could be harnessed by cultivation. In conclusion, Blenerhasset makes "an exortation to England" that she help Ulster, the daughter of her sister Ireland:Fayre England, thy flourishing Sister, braue Hibernia, (with most respectiue termes) comendeth vnto thy due consideration her yongest daughter, depopulated Vlster: not doubting (for it cannot but come vnto thy vnderstanding) how the long continuance of lamentable warres, haue raced & vtterly defaced, whatsoeuer was beautifull in her to behold . . . (Blenerhasset 1610, D1v) As well as stressing the importance of the familial duty and fidelity England must s...
