A member of an English Protestant sect of the seventeenth century. Puritans wanted a 'godly reformation of manners' i.e. abstention from sin and more worship of God. Were against the Laudian reforms of the Church of England, such as the reintroduction of the altar, incense and priests' vestments. Instead, they were in favour of a much simpler and more plain church, with many wanting to abolish bishops and the most extreme wanting to abolish the priesthood altogether.