a group of radicalEnglish Protestants that arose in the 16th century and became a majorforce in England during the 17th century. Puritans wanted to "purify" the Church of England by eliminating traces of itsorigins in the Roman Catholic Church. In addition, they urged a strict moral code and placed a high value on hard work. Many Puritans, persecuted in their homeland, left England, some emigrating to Holland and many to America in the 1620s and 1630s, settling colonies that eventually became Massachusetts. —HSSC Glossary (approved 3-9-90)