The Protestant Separatists did not want to pledge their loyalty to the Church of England because they believe that the latter retained too many elements of the Roman Catholic Church. The ecclesiastical courts, clerical vestments, altars and the practice of kneeling made the Separatists (also known as Independents) become severely critical towards the Church of England. They also saw the lax standards of public behavior tolerated by the Church, such as drunkenness and not being able to keep the Sabbath holy.
