This invitation brought "unsettled persons," libertines in unrestrained opinions, from abroad to disseminate their peculiar views.

The Puritans, fearing the disorganization of their church, early took alarm and, with a mistaken policy, resisted such encroachments upon the domain and into their society with fiery penal laws implacably executed.
Among the sects of the time dangerous to Puritanism, were the Quakers or Friends.

The first of the sect who appeared conspicuously in New England were Mary Fisher and Anna Austin, who arrived at Boston in the summer of 1656, when John Endicott was governor.

There was no special law against them; but under a general act against heretics, they were arrested; their persons were searched to find marks of witchcraft, with which they were suspected; their trunks were searched, and their books were burned publicly by the hangman.

After several weeks of confinement in prison, they were sent back to England.