Anna Trapnell
Encyclopedia
Anna Trapnell was an alleged Prophetess in England in the 1650s, associated with the Fifth Monarchists
whom she joined in 1652. In January 1654, Trapnell fell into a trance for eleven or twelve days, during which time she sang, prayed, and prophesied before a large crowd of people. Her trance and the news of it propelled her to fame around England. She was sharply critical of the Protectorate
government of Oliver Cromwell
, she preached equality of the sexes, and officially, she was considered mad. In April 1654, she was arrested, imprisoned at Bridewell, and tried. Anticipating that she would be considered a taciturn witch she overwhelmed the court with verbosity, and was subsequently released in July of that same year. She continued her prophesies upon her release, and accounts of her activities were recorded in Strange and Wonderful Newes from White-Hall, The Cry of a Stone, A Legacy for Saints, and Anna Trapnel's Report and Plea, all published in 1654.
, England, in the Parish of St. Dunstan's sometime during the 1630s. Her father was a shipwright, and brought his family up in a poor sailor's town. Despite having not been baptized, Trapnell had religious zeal at a very early age for she said, "When a child, the Lord awed my spirit, and so for the least trespass, my heart was smitten." She claims that her first recorded vision occurred after the death of her mother in 1647.
on the whim of a dream. She was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace, and brought before the magistrates of the county. She had a very detailed account of the proceedings in her biography entitled, "A Narrative of Her Journey Into Cornwall". Judges asked her questions about the reasons of her travels and her purpose for preaching. She responded with questions, parables, and quotations from the Bible. The intense questioning and the ambiguity of her responses is very reminiscent of the trial in Jesus before the Crucifixion. Whether this report of her trial is accurate, however, is debatable, for the only of account of Anna Trapnell's trial is her own.
Fifth Monarchists
The Fifth Monarchists or Fifth Monarchy Men were active from 1649 to 1661 during the Interregnum, following the English Civil Wars of the 17th century. They took their name from a prophecy in the Book of Daniel that four ancient monarchies would precede Christ's return...
whom she joined in 1652. In January 1654, Trapnell fell into a trance for eleven or twelve days, during which time she sang, prayed, and prophesied before a large crowd of people. Her trance and the news of it propelled her to fame around England. She was sharply critical of the Protectorate
The Protectorate
In British history, the Protectorate was the period 1653–1659 during which the Commonwealth of England was governed by a Lord Protector.-Background:...
government of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, she preached equality of the sexes, and officially, she was considered mad. In April 1654, she was arrested, imprisoned at Bridewell, and tried. Anticipating that she would be considered a taciturn witch she overwhelmed the court with verbosity, and was subsequently released in July of that same year. She continued her prophesies upon her release, and accounts of her activities were recorded in Strange and Wonderful Newes from White-Hall, The Cry of a Stone, A Legacy for Saints, and Anna Trapnel's Report and Plea, all published in 1654.
Early life
Anna Trapnell was born in StepneyStepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, England, in the Parish of St. Dunstan's sometime during the 1630s. Her father was a shipwright, and brought his family up in a poor sailor's town. Despite having not been baptized, Trapnell had religious zeal at a very early age for she said, "When a child, the Lord awed my spirit, and so for the least trespass, my heart was smitten." She claims that her first recorded vision occurred after the death of her mother in 1647.
A Narrative of Her Journey into Cornwall
Anna Trapnell travelled to CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
on the whim of a dream. She was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace, and brought before the magistrates of the county. She had a very detailed account of the proceedings in her biography entitled, "A Narrative of Her Journey Into Cornwall". Judges asked her questions about the reasons of her travels and her purpose for preaching. She responded with questions, parables, and quotations from the Bible. The intense questioning and the ambiguity of her responses is very reminiscent of the trial in Jesus before the Crucifixion. Whether this report of her trial is accurate, however, is debatable, for the only of account of Anna Trapnell's trial is her own.