William Hacket facts for kids

William Hacket, also known as Hackett (died 1591), was an English man who lived a long time ago. He was a Puritan, which was a type of Christian who wanted to make the church simpler. Hacket believed he was a special messenger from God, like a messiah. He even said that Queen Elizabeth I should not be queen anymore. Because of his actions, he was arrested and faced serious charges in London.

Hacket's Early Life and Work

Hacket was born in a place called Oundle in Northamptonshire, England. He did not go to school and could not read or write. He worked as a serving-man for important families in Northamptonshire.

Later, Hacket married Anna Moreton, who was the wife of a rich farmer. He then became a maltster, someone who makes malt for brewing. People said he was sometimes difficult and got into arguments.

A Change in Beliefs

Later in his life, Hacket had a big change in his religious beliefs. He was born a Catholic, but he started to dislike Catholicism very much. Instead, he became a Presbyterian, another type of Protestant Christian.

In Oundle, a friend named Giles Wigginton became Hacket's follower. They started as business partners. Soon, they became leaders of a small Protestant group that was almost completely separate from the main church.

Hacket's Preaching Journeys

Hacket traveled to York and announced that God had sent him to prepare the way for a special leader. However, he was not welcomed there and was told to leave. He had a similar experience in Leicester.

After this, he preached in villages around Northamptonshire. He spoke against Queen Elizabeth and her main advisors. Because of this, he was arrested and put in Northampton prison. He was released after many weeks, but he had to promise to appear in court if called.

Hacket in London

Around Easter in 1591, Hacket went to London. His friend Wigginton had suggested it. He stayed in a lodging house near Smithfield. Wigginton introduced him to Edmund Coppinger. Coppinger worked for the royal family and believed God had told him to warn the queen to improve herself and the country.

Coppinger soon became convinced that Hacket was very special. He believed Hacket had come from heaven to start a new time on Earth. Coppinger also convinced his friend, Henry Arthington, a gentleman from Yorkshire. Hacket even claimed he could not be harmed. People came to his lodging to hear his prayers and prophecies.

Public Statements and Arrest

Coppinger and Arthington strongly believed in Hacket. They started talking in public about removing the Queen and putting Hacket in her place. They also wanted to change the church. They spoke of removing important government officials and replacing them with people who shared their Puritan ideas. They also spread leaflets and letters around London, announcing these big changes.

On July 19, 1591, Coppinger and Arthington left Hacket and went to Cheapside. From the top of an empty cart, they preached to crowds. They said that William Hacket was like Christ, returned to judge the world and spread the Christian message in Europe. They claimed they were Hacket's two prophets, sent by God. They promised mercy for those who believed and repented, but warned of terrible judgment for those who did not. They also spoke against the Queen and her advisors.

Crowds gathered, and things became chaotic. The two men had to hide in a place called the Mermaid Tavern. When the Queen's advisors heard about this, they had Coppinger, Arthington, and Hacket arrested. They were all sent to Bridewell Palace prison.

Trial and Consequences

Hacket was put on trial for serious charges on July 26 at the Sessions House near Newgate. He admitted to saying that Queen Elizabeth was not the true queen of England. However, he denied damaging a picture of the queen. His actions during and after the trial suggested he might have been mentally unwell at this time. Some people called him a visionary or someone who was not thinking clearly.

He was sentenced to death. On July 28, 1591, he was executed near the Cross in Cheapside. It is said he continued to speak disrespectfully on his way to the scaffold. Coppinger, one of his followers, died in prison. Arthington, however, said he had been tricked and apologized. He was released the next year.

A book about William Hacket's life and trial was planned for publication soon after his death, but no copies seem to exist today.

Aftermath and Puritanism

During this time, there were many challenges in England, including economic difficulties and social divisions. While Hacket and his followers did get some attention, most people did not support their ideas.

At this time, some Puritan leaders were facing trials and imprisonment. Enemies of the Puritans tried to connect Hacket's actions to the wider Puritan movement, hoping to weaken its influence. However, there was no proof that Puritan leaders knew about Hacket's plans beforehand. In fact, a well-known Puritan leader named Thomas Cartwright believed Hacket and his followers were confused and should be imprisoned.

See also

• List of messiah claimants
• Messiah complex