When James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603, the Church of England was no longer under the Pope, but the English monarch was the supreme head. It was a national (Anglican) church made up of a majority who were Episcopalian and two minorities of nonconformists—Protestants, such as the Puritans, and Roman Catholics who still retained their faith. There were also several version of the Bible in use; for instance, the Bishops' Bible was that of the national church, the Genevan that of the Puritans, and the Latin Vulgate and its New Testament English translation (Douai-Rheims) that of the Roman Catholics.
During the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 1558-1603, it had been recognized that there was need for "the reducinge of diversities of Bibles now extant in the Englishe tongue to one setled vulgar translated from the originall," but no definite steps seem to have been taken to produce it.
The new king was a keen theologian and devoted to the study of the Bible, and had been acquainted with Presbyterianism in Scotland; therefore it is probable that the Puritans hoped for greater consideration from him than they had received from his predecessor. Accordingly, they petitioned for some alterations in the Prayer Book with regard to rites and ceremonies, and also for trained ministers and stricter discipline.
