Editing Lucy Walter (section)

==Aftermath during the Exclusion Crisis==
The marriage of King Charles and [[Catherine of Braganza]] (1638–1705) did not produce legitimate children, leaving his brother, [[James II of England|James, Duke of York]] (1633–1701) as heir to the throne. The duke was [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], and many people wanted a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] monarch. Rumours spread that the king had married Lucy Walters, making the Duke of Monmouth legitimate.{{CN|date=May 2024}}

Sir Gilbert Gerard, who supposedly had the box containing proof of the marriage was summoned before the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] in January 1678, and [[Testimony|testified]] that he knew nothing of the proof. The king also denied the marriage. After King Charles' death in 1685, the Duke of York became king as James II, and the Duke of Monmouth started a [[Monmouth rebellion|rebellion against him]], which was crushed in the [[Battle of Sedgemoor]]. The duke was [[Decapitation|beheaded]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=2051|page=2|date=13 July 1685}}</ref>