Brownists,
The name given to those Puritans who went to Holland, and afterwards emigrated to New England; so named from their leader, Robert Brown. The sect sprang up towards the close of the sixteenth century. As early as 1580, Brown began to inveigh against the ceremonies of the Church of England. Being opposed by the bishops, he and his congregation left England, and settled in Zealand, where they formed a church upon a model to suit themselves. The seed he had planted in England grew so abundantly that at the close of the century there were about 20,000 Brownists in the realm. Of that sect were Rev. Mr. Robinson, Elder Brewster, and the congregation at Leyden in 1620. The founder of this sect was born about the year 1550, and died about 1630. His family were closely connected with Cecil, afterwards Lord Burleigh. Educated at Cambridge, as soon as he left college he began a vigorous opposition to the whole discipline and liturgy of the Established Church. He taught that all the members of a church were equal, and that the pastor should be chosen by the congregation. See Bradford. William: The First Dialogue.
