Page "Mary II of England" Paragraph 8

From May 1684, the King's illegitimate son, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, lived in the Netherlands, where he was fêted by William and Mary.

Monmouth was viewed as a rival to the Duke of York, and as a potential Protestant heir who could supplant James in the line of succession.

William, however, did not consider him a viable alternative and correctly assumed that Monmouth had insufficient support.