All the puritans of these times were desirous of remaining in the church, might they be indulged as to the habits and a few ceremonies, though they were far from being satisfied with the hierarchy, and had other objections beside those for which they had been deprived. Instead of indulgence, their grievances were multiplied, and the penal laws were rigorously executed. However, the body of the conforming clergy being extremely illiterate and ignorant, the deprived ministers were employed as curates or lecturers; and received for their services, a small consideration from the incumbent, together with the voluntary contribution of the parish. By their warm and affectionate preaching, and eminent faithfulness, they gained the hearts of the common people, who were the more attached to them, the more cruelty was exercised upon them; and who had the utmost aversion to the popish garments, as their hatred to popery increased. The preachers appealed to the scriptures. Their hearers searched them carefully; obtained more and clearer discoveries of the popish superstitions; grew in their abhorrence of them; venerated the divine institutions; and longed to have the worship of the church rendered more pure and primitive. The popularity of the deprived ministers drew numbers from neighboring parishes. _Puritanism_ spread and gained ground by being persecuted. Its growth was the greatest grief to the queen and archbishop Whitgift. But neither the supreme head of the church, nor the primate of all _England_, had policy or christianity enough to apply the proper remedy, in granting _liberty of conscience_. Instead of that, new acts were passed, and greater severities practised. Such inhuman proceedings against protestants of good moral characters, did not pass unnoticed. They were the subjects of conversation. The right of acting thus toward fellow creatures, and its non-agreement with the mild and benevolent principles of christianity, were freely canvassed. The supreme head and chief dignitaries of the _English_ church being such intolerable persecutors, it became a question, “Is she any longer a _true church_ of Christ, and are her ministers _true_ ministers.” At length one _Robert Brown_, descended from an ancient and honorable family, and nearly related to lord treasurer _Cecil_, a fiery zealot, travelled through the country [1586] a second time, holding forth, wherever he went, against _bishops_, _ecclesiastic courts_, _ordaining of ministers_, &c. and gathered a _separate_ congregation. The parties held, that the _church of_ ENGLAND was not a _true_ church; that her ministers were not _rightly_ ordained; that her discipline was _popish_ and _anti-christian_; and that all her ordinances and sacraments were _invalid_. Therefore they would not join with her members in _any part_ of public worship. They not only renounced communion with the _church of_ ENGLAND, but with _all_ other reformed churches, except they were of their own model.