William Hacket

 ( 16th-century Puritans ) 

Coppinger, his "prophet of mercy" and Arthington, "prophet of judgement", proved credulous disciples; they talked publicly of dethroning the Queen and putting Hacket in her place, of abolishing the episcopacy of the Church of England and establishing in every congregation a Presbyterian style of 'eldership' or consistory of doctor, pastor, and lay elders. Christopher Hatton, the Lord Chancellor. They also spoke of other ministers of state to be removed from office and replaced by associates of the conspirators, among whom were mentioned William Davison and other persons reputed to be of Puritans predilections. They also scattered leaflets and letters about London foretelling the coming changes. Hacket defaced the queen's arms which were set up in his lodgings in Knightrider Street, and mutilated a picture of her with a bodkin.

On 19 July 1591, Coppinger and Arthington left Hacket in his lodgings near "Broken Wharf" to Cheapside, and from the top of an empty cart preached that William Hacket was the Christ returned to judge the earth and establish the gospel in Europe. They stated they were his two prophets, sent by God as witnesses and repentance would ensure mercy from heaven. Terrible judgement and eternal punishment was promised against those who would not believe and repent. They also spoke out against the Queen and her ministers.Besant, Walter. London in the time of the Tudors (London: A. & C. Black, 1904) pp. 158-9. Crowds gathered, and a riot ensued, forcing the fanatics to take refuge in the Mermaid Tavern. The privy council, on hearing of their conduct, had them and Hacket arrested, and they were imprisoned in Bridewell Palace.

He was condemned to death, and executed near the Cross in Cheapside on 28 July 1591 by being hanged, drawn and quartered. On the way to the scaffold he is said to have insulted the clergyman accompanying him and uttered "execrable blasphemy" to the last. Of his fellow conspirators, Coppinger starved himself to death in Bridewell, though Arthington, claiming that he had been the victim of witchcraft, and giving a penitent apology, was released in the following year.

A Life, Arraignment, Judgement, and Execution of William Hacket was licensed for publication to Robert Bourne on 28 July 1591. No copy seems to have survived. John Strype gave a summary of a Conspiracy for pretended Reformation (1592), which details Hacket, Coppinger, and Arthington's activities.Strype, John. Annals of the Reformation , vol. 4 (Oxford, 1824) pp. 95-100, nos. XLVIII & XLIX.

At this time, Puritan leaders were being tried for sedition and imprisoned; enemies attempted to use the Puritan affiliation of the Hacket rebels as the basis for a link with Thomas Cartwright and the wider Puritan faction, and undermine its influence. However, there was never any evidence to suggest foreknowledge; in fact, Cartwright had considered the insurrectionists to be deluded and disordered in mind, to be treated as such, and had suggested imprisonment as the correct course of action. In 1596, Cartwright, having already incurred the Government's displeasure, and been imprisoned for another matter, issued a written defence of his actions in answer to scurrilous accusations concerning the Hacket rebellion.Brook, B. Memoir of the life and writings of Thomas Cartwright, including the principal ecclesiastical movements in the reign of Queen Elizabeth (London, J. Snow, 1845) p. 428 ff.Levin, Carol. The reign of Elizabeth I (Palgrave Macmillan, 2002) p. 100.

• List of messiah claimants
• Messiah complex