Editing David Rizzio (section)

== Murder ==
[[File:John Opie (1761-1807) - The Murder of Rizzio - 49 - Guildhall Art Gallery.jpg|thumb|''The Murder of Rizzio'', 1787, by [[John Opie]]]]

Jealousy precipitated Rizzio's murder in the Queen's supper chamber in the [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]] at 8 o'clock on Saturday, 9 March 1566. Mary, Rizzio, [[Lady Jean Stewart|Jean Stewart, Countess of Argyll]], [[Robert Beaton of Creich|Robert Beaton]] of [[Creich Castle|Criech]] and [[Arthur Erskine of Blackgrange|Arthur Erskine]] were seated at the supper table.<ref>[[Henry Ellis (librarian)|Henry Ellis]], ''Original Letters'', series 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), p. 210: John Parker Lawson, [https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/79609693 ''History of Scotland by Robert Keith'', 2 (Edinburgh, 1845), p. 413]</ref> The supper room, which still exists as part of the bedchamber, and was then "a cabinet about XII [[Foot (unit)|foot]] square, in the same a little low reposinge bedde, and a table" according to an account of the murder written by [[Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford|Francis, Earl of Bedford]], and [[Thomas Randolph (ambassador)|Thomas Randolph]]. The room had been decorated by Mary's servant [[Servais de Condé]].<ref>''HMC Calendar of the manuscripts of the Most Honourable the Marquess of Salisbury preserved at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire'', vol. 1 (London, 1883), p. 333, and in [https://archive.org/details/queenelizabethhe01wriguoft/page/226 Thomas Wright, ''Queen Elizabeth and her Times'', vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 226-235].</ref>

On the night of the murder the royal guards were overpowered and the palace was turned over to the control of the rebels. The Queen was six months pregnant (with [[James VI]]) at the time, and some accused Rizzio of having impregnated her. The rebels burst into the supper room, led by [[Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven|Lord Ruthven]], and demanded that Rizzio be handed over. The Queen refused. Rizzio then hid behind Mary but was nevertheless seized. Mary would allege that one of the intruders, Patrick Bellenden (brother of the [[John Bellenden (Lord Justice Clerk)|Lord Justice Clerk]]), pointed his gun at her pregnant belly <ref>Peter Anderson, ''Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney Lord of Shetland'' (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1982), p. 48.</ref> while Andrew Kerr of Faldonsyde threatened to stab her. Lord Ruthven denied this.<ref>Thomas Wright, ''Queen Elizabeth and her Times'', vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 229-30.</ref>

After this violent struggle, Rizzio was dragged through the bed-chamber into the adjacent Audience Chamber and stabbed an alleged 57 times. His body was thrown down the main staircase nearby (now disused) and stripped of his jewels and fine clothes.<ref name="Daniel1">Daniel, William S. (1852), ''History of The Abbey and Palace of Holyrood'' (Edinburgh, 1852), p. 75.</ref> The location of Rizzio's murder is marked with a small plaque in the Audience Chamber, underneath which is a red mark on the floorboards, which reportedly was left when Rizzio was stabbed to death.<ref>[https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf ''Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse: A Creative Writing Resource for Teachers''] – [[Palace of Holyrood House]]</ref>

Rizzio was first buried in the cemetery of Holyrood Abbey.<ref>Joseph Stevenson, ''The History of Mary Stewart: From the Murder of Riccio Until Her Flight Into England by Claude Nau'' (Edinburgh, 1883), pp. 16, 227.</ref> Buchanan states that shortly afterwards his body was removed by the Queen's orders and deposited in the tomb of the kings of Scotland in Holyrood Abbey.<ref name="Daniel3">Daniel, William S. (1852), ''History of The Abbey and Palace of Holyrood'' (Edinburgh, 1852), p. 76.</ref> This strengthened the previous rumours of her familiarity with him.{{sfnp|Ruthen|1815}} Rumours circulated about the motive for the murder: that Darnley was jealous, or that powerful lords sought to manipulate Darnley and remove an irritating presence at court.