right|thumb|Engraving by [[Johann Ladenspelder which is linked to Correction and exhortation out of heartie loue, a book by Nicholis]]
The Familia Caritatis, Latin for "", also known as the Familists, was a mystical religious sect founded in the sixteenth century by Henry Nicholis, also known as Niclaes. Familia Caritatis translates to "" in Low German, "" in Dutch, and "" in German.
History
The outward trappings of Nicholis's system were Anabaptist. His followers were said to assert that all things were ruled by nature and not directly by God, deny the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, and repudiate infant baptism. They held that no person should be put to death for their opinions, and, like the later Quakers, they objected to carrying arms and anything like an oath. They were quite impartial in their repudiation of all other churches and sects, including Brownists and Barrowists.
Nicholis's message is said to have appealed to the well-educated and creative elite, artists, musicians, and scholars. They felt no need to spread the message and risk prosecution for heresy. Members were usually a part of an otherwise-established church, quietly remained in the background, and were confident in their elite status as part of the Godhead. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition states: