Final answer:
James I disliked the Separatists because he viewed their quest for religious autonomy as a threat to his monarchical authority, given his belief in the divine right of kings and the need for religious uniformity to maintain political control.
Step-by-step explanation:
James I's aversion to the Separatists stemmed from his staunch belief in the divine right of kings and the necessity for religious uniformity to maintain his political authority. When James ascended the English throne, the Puritans held out hope that he would address their grievances against certain Catholic practices within the Church of England. Their optimism was rooted in the Presbyterian structure of the Scottish Church, where James had previously ruled. However, the Puritan clergy's Millenary Petition, which proposed reforms such as eliminating the use of the word "priest" and the practice of confirmation, met with James's outright rejection, epitomized by his assertion that "no Bishops" would mean "no King."
James I's fears were amplified by the fact that many Puritans, and particularly the Separatists, sought independence from the Church of England and its episcopal system, which he saw as inseparable from the monarchy. The Separatists aimed to form self-governed congregations which conflicted with James's vision of religious and political unity under a monarchical and episcopal system. Consequently, James I's efforts to enforce religious conformity were part of a broader strategy to uphold his vision of monarchical authority, which was inherently threatened by the Separatist movement.