THE ASSASSINATION OF RI2ZI0. 109 



implored the aid of liis royal mistress. The queen's interposition, however, 

 only accelerated the catastrophe. The sacred character of majesty was insulted ; 

 and, whilst the victim of a ferocious faction clung to her as to a sanctuary, the 

 " chill of their deadly weapons crossed her breast." One of the assassins, Ker of 

 Faldonside, presenting a loaded pistol, audaciously commanded her to shake off 

 the reptile that thus dared to shelter its baseness in the royal ermine. But the 

 queen, meeting the proposal with a feeling of indignation proportioned to its 

 audacity, continued to interpose the frail barrier of her person between the 

 doomed suppliant and the daggers of his assassins. Neither her authority, 

 however, as a queen, her influence as a wife, nor her approaching claims as a 

 mother, could avert the blow. Revenge and jealousy had bUnded them to 

 personal consequences, and rendered them deaf to that eloquence of beauty 

 which, till now, had never pleaded in vain. The hands of the victim, convul- 

 sively grasping the royal robe, were forcibly unclasped, and, bleeding fi-om a 

 thrust already inflicted by Douglas — and it is believed with Darnley's dagger, 

 he was dragged from the royal presence, and dispatched by fifty-six wounds, 

 corresponding ^vith the number of conspirators, who thus testified their personal 

 concurrence in the deed. 



Sir James Melvil in his " Memoirs" gives the following personal recollection 

 of Rizzio on his first introduction to the queen at Holyrood : — " Now," says 

 he, " there came here in company with the ambassador of Savoy, one David 

 Rizzio, of the country of Piedmont, who was a merry fellow, and a good musician. 

 Her majesty had three valets of her chamber, who sung three parts, and wanted 

 a base to sing the fourth part ; therefore they told her majesty of tliis man, 

 as one fit to make the fourth in concert. Thus he was drawn in sometimes 

 to sing with the rest ; and afterwards, when her French seeretary retired himself 

 to France, this David obtained the said office. And as he thereby entered into 

 greater credit, so he had not the prudence to manage the same rightly ; for 

 frequently, in the presence of the nobility, he would be publicly speaking to her 

 majesty — even when there was the greatest convention of the states. Now, 

 all this made him to be much envied and hated ; especially when he became 

 so great that he presented all signatures to be subscribed by her majesty, so 



to permit me to sit from his own table with the rest of tlie gentlemen, and no more to confer with me in 

 their presence, but to call me by a page to his chamber, when he had any service to command me ; seeing 

 otherwise he would prejudge himself and me, both by giving ground of discontent to his subjects in too 

 much noticing a stranger, and expose me to their fury. This favour I obtained ; and in that way my master 

 was not hated, nor I any more envied. 1 advised Rizzio,'* continues Sir James, " to take the same course, 

 if he was resolved to act as a wise man ; which counsel he said he was resolved to follow, but afterwards 

 told me that the queen would not suffer him, but must needs have him carry himself as formerly." 



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