Puritan: A member of a religious reform movement in the 16th and 17th centuries that sought to purify the Church of England from Roman Catholic practices.

Royal Supremacy: The doctrine that the monarch has supreme authority over the church and state.

Parliament: The governing body representing the people, which often challenged royal authority during this period.

Clergy: Religious leaders in the church, whose practices and authority were questioned by Puritans.

Covenant: An agreement or promise, especially in a religious context, such as the Puritans' belief in a covenant with God.

Episcopalian: Relating to church governance by bishops, opposed by many Puritans who preferred a church governed by elders.

Separatists: A group of Puritans who wanted to completely separate from the Church of England and establish independent congregations.

Enforcement Acts: Laws enacted to suppress Puritan practices and ensure conformity to the Anglican church.

Nonconformists: Protestants who did not conform to the doctrines or practices of the established church.

Civil War: The conflict (1642–1651) partly driven by tensions between the monarchy and Parliament, with Puritans playing a significant role.