THERES BEEN A MURRRRRRRRRRRDER.

In 1566 jealousy from the Queens (Mary, Queen of Scots) husband Lord Darnley precipitated Rizzios' murder in the Queen's presence, in her supper chamber in the Palace of Holyroodhouse after the royal guards were quickly overpowered and the palace was turned over to the control of the rebels (a conspiracy of Protestant nobles, led by Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven). The Queen was seven months pregnant (with James VI) at the time. Having burst into the Queen's private dining room, the rebels, led by Ruthven, demanded Rizzio be handed over. The Queen refused. Rizzio then hid behind Mary, who having tried desperately to protect him, was herself threatened at gun point. The hysterical screams of the Queen and Rizzio travelled out of the palace and alerted the people of Edinburgh. Several hundred local men poured out of the local taverns and ran to Holyrood with makeshift weapons, but with a gun held at her side, the Queen was forced to go to the window and dismiss them.

After this violent struggle, Rizzio was stabbed and slashed 56 times, before being thrown down the main staircase and stripped of his jewels and fine clothes. He was buried within two hours in the cemetery of Holyrood.

This is a fascinating spot as underneath the wall plaque you can still see the staining to the floorboards from Rizzios blood.