“The Lamentation of a Sinner” was Parr’s third and final published work, and unusual in that a Queen – who would usually be considered above reproach and was certainly expected to conduct themselves that way – would openly identify as a sinner. The work begins by considering confession and repentance, and then moves on to conversion and prophecy. It was written in first person, and although Parr identifies herself as the Queen at some points, the work largely avoids autobiography except in its discussion of faith. Appropriately for the wife of the founder of Anglicanism, the book is strongly anti-Catholic, emphasising on the importance of scripture (and the importance of it being readable in English), and promotes the Lutheran concept of justification by faith alone.
It is believed to have been written in the summer and autumn of 1547, and to have circulated at court prior to its publication in November of that year. It was less well-received than Parr’s two previous works, but not without influence on the evolving Anglican faith.
