PICARDS, a religious sect which arose in Bohemia in the 15th century.

author of this sect, from whom it derived its name, drew after him, as has been generally said, a number of men and women, pretending he would restore them to the primitive state of innocence wherein man was created; and accordingly he assumed the title of the New Adam. With this pretence he taught his followers to give themselves up to all impurity; saying that therein consisted the liberty of the sons of God; and that all those not of their sect were in bondage.