Anna Trapnel

Anna Trapnel or Trapnell was a 17th-century English preacher. She was born at Stepney in East London in about 1622. In 1652, she joined the Fifth Monarchists, a group of religious dissenters active during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, whose views she helped to shape. In 1654, she fell into a trance for 11 or 12 days, during which time she sang, prayed, and made prophesies before a large crowd. She became famous when the news of these activities was reported around the country. She was sharply critical of the government and preached equality of the sexes. She was arrested, imprisoned at Bridewell in London, and put on trial. However, she appeared to have overwhelmed the court with her eloquent defense, and was released. She continued her preaching and prophecies, and wrote first-person accounts of her activities 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. The date and circumstances of her death are unknown.