in church-history, a religious sect, which sprung up in England towards the end of the 16th century. Their leader was one Robert Brown, born at Northampton. They separated from the established church, on account of its discipline and form of government. They equally disliked episcopacy and presbyterianism. They condemned the solemn celebration of marriages in churches; maintaining, that matrimony being a political contract, the confirmation of it ought to proceed from the civil magistrate. They rejected all forms of prayer; and held, that the Lord's prayer was not be recited as a prayer, being given only as a model upon which to form our prayers.