ADRIANISTS. - A little-known Dutch Protestant sect of the 16th century. It takes its name from ADRIANO HAMSTED, born in Dordrecht in 1524, but who died in Bruges in 1581. During the reign of Elizabeth, he was for a time minister of the Dutch congregation in London, but was excommunicated by the Anglican Bishop of London, EDM. GRINDAL, in 1561, for denying the miraculous conception of Our Lord. Returning to Holland, he founded a congregation with Anabaptist tendencies, and, according to his adversaries, his false mysticism and exaggerated asceticism led his followers to conduct that was too free.
The same name is also given to a short-lived sect whose origins, according to Theodorus, go back to SIMON MAGUS. Some believe there may have been some confusion with the sect of the MENANDRIANS, followers of MENANDER (v.).