The Miroir or Glasse of the Synneful Soul

The Miroir or Glasse of the Synneful Soul is a manuscript book that was given to Catherine Parr by her stepdaughter, the future Elizabeth I of England in 1544, when Elizabeth was eleven years old. Elizabeth translated the work from French verse into English prose and wrote the manuscript with her own hand, dedicating it with the words, "From Assherige, the last daye of the yeare of our Lord God 1544 ... To our most noble and vertuous Quene Katherin, Elizabeth her humble daughter wisheth perpetuall felicitie and everlasting joye," Elizabeth probably also embroidered the bookbinding. This book is now owned by the Bodleian Library.

A second embroidered manuscript book, entitled Prayers of Queen Katherine Parr, is also attributed to Elizabeth as a gift to the queen dated 20 December 1545. It contains prayers or meditations the queen had originally composed in English, which the princess had translated into French, Latin and Italian, handwritten in the princess's hand on vellum. The inscription reads "Precationes ... ex piis scriptoribus per nobiliss. et pientiss. D. Catharinam Anglie, Francie, Hibernieq. reginam collecte, et per D. Elizabetam ex anglico converse." It is, moreover, dedicated to Elizabeth's father Henry VIII, the wording being, "Illustrissimo Henrico octavo, Anglie, Francie, Hibernieq. regi," etc.

The Miroir or Glasse of the Synneful Soul measures about 7" by 5" and has an identical design on both covers, worked in blue silk in a tapestry stitch over canvas with interlacing scrollwork of gold and silver braid that joins the queen's initials K.P. in the center. Each corner of the front depicts a heartsease (Viola) in purple, green and yellow silk with gold thread. The back cover is well worn; its corner embroidery is difficult to identify, but was probably floral.

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