David Rizzio and Mary Queen of Scots

"For over two hundred years an enormous painting has hung in the Guildhall at the heart of the City of London. The dark canvas depicts the murder of David Rizzio, the favourite of Mary Queen of Scots, in gory Gothic detail. David Tweedie's book is the first modern biography of the victim in the picture: a rich, heady brew of royalty, murder, plots and revenge set in Renaissance Edinburgh." "David Rizzio came to Scotland from Italy in 1561. Charming, musical and cultured, he rose to power and influence in the cosmopolitan court of Queen Mary as her secretary and, effectively, prime minister. Together they hoped to avoid Scotland turning into a Calvinist republic. For a few months it seemed as if an independent Scots kingdom might survive under this joint leadership." "Yet the regime could not last. Encouraged by English agents working for Sir William Cecil, militant Scottish Protestants, disaffected barons and Mary's jealous husband Lord Darnley combined together in revolt. On the evening of 9 March 1566 they forced their way into the palace of Holyroodhouse and savagely stabbed the Italian secretary to death while he was at supper with the queen." "David Tweedie explores the motive