Puritanism

Puritans are members of a radically reformist Protestant sect in England. They opposed the rule of Queen Elizabeth as being insufficiently radically reformist, and were persecuted under her reign, though Protestantism was the kingdom's official state religion at the time.

They were also persecuted when the Spanish-backed Queen Isabella and King Albert ruled England.

In 1597 William Shakespeare was impressed by the courage of a Puritan about to be executed by the English Inquisition at an auto da fe.

In 1598, after fleeing London for his life, Christopher Marlowe returned to the city disguised as a Puritan.