Lord Darnley's Room, Holyrood Castle.

Holyrood Castle And Chapel.

In The Interior Of Scotland.

Courtyard, Holyrood Castle.

Loch Lomond.

Meeting Of Mary And Rizzio.

Bothwell Castle.

Was there really cause for Darnley to be suspicious of Rizzio, as Mary's lover? On the contrary, there are strong reasons to prove such a theory highly improbable. First, no charge of the kind existed when Darnley married Mary, which seems to dispose of the time before her wedding. Secondly, Mary undoubtedly married Darnley from love, and it was less than a year after the wedding that Rizzio was murdered. Thirdly, the shrewd Italian had worked in every way to bring about the union of the Queen and Darnley, believing it to be for Mary's interest; and it was actually in Rizzio's private room at Stirling Castle that, in order to outwit their enemies, their secret marriage had taken place, some months before the public wedding in Holyrood Chapel. Far from disliking him, therefore, Darnley was at first very grateful to the young Italian, and looked upon him as his friend. But now affairs were changed; for, in the disputes which had arisen about increasing Darnley's power in State affairs, Rizzio, faithful to the Queen, invariably took her part. Darnley, therefore, believing him to be the greatest obstacle to his ambitious projects, longed for his destruction. It is evident, then, that political motives are sufficient to explain the whole affair; for Rizzio's death was but the opening step of a profound conspiracy into which Darnley had been coaxed and flattered. He was still a boy, hardly out of his teens, and a mere puppet in the hands of the crafty men who took advantage of his folly to further their ambitious schemes. It was possible that this abominable plot to murder Rizzio in Mary's presence might endanger her own life and that of her unborn child; but what mattered it? If she should die, so much the better for them! If she survived the shock, she was to be imprisoned, - possibly, forced to abdicate; while Darnley, although nominally king, would still remain an insignificant figurehead, behind which the conspirators would really rule.

A Ruined Stronghold.

Happiness Dwelleth Not In Palaces.

Into the courtyard of Holyrood Castle, just after dusk, on the night appointed for the crime, Mary's Lord Chancellor, Morton (one of the chief conspirators), led a body of armed men. A number of these desperados hid themselves in Darnley's room, above which were the Queen's apartments, whither a winding staircase led. It was seven o'clock. Mary was in her library at supper. Three friends, a lady, a gentleman, and Rizzio, were her guests. Suddenly Darnley, who had come up the private stairway, entered the supper-room. Seating himself in a vacant chair beside his wife, he put his arm around her waist, and gave her an affectionate kiss. It was the kiss of Judas; for, meantime, his associates following him had stolen softly into Mary's bedroom. Impatient of delay, they crowded through the doorway into the Queen's presence. Mary, alarmed, demanded what their intrusion signified. They said they meant no harm to her, but only to the villain near her.

Rizzio saw that his hour had come. "Madam," he said to his sovereign, "I am lost." "Fear not," she answered firmly,"the King will never suffer you to be slain in my presence, nor can he forget your many faithful services." At' this appeal, which probably touched a tender spot in Darnley's heart, he faltered, apparently unwilling to perform his part. "Sir," exclaimed Ruth-ven fiercely, "look to your wife and sovereign." At this Darnley forced Mary into a chair and held her there so tightly that she could not rise. One of the ruffians presented a pistol to her side, and with a horrible oath swore he would shoot her dead if she resisted. "Fire," she dauntlessly replied, "if you have no respect for my own life, or for that of my unborn child." Her husband pushed away the weapon. Meantime the supper-room was lighted with the glare of torches, and echoed to the tread of other murderous invaders. Rizzio, clinging to the Queen's dress, piteously cried: "Save my life, Madam! Save my life, for God's dear sake!" The assassins rushed upon him. A terrible scene ensued. The table with its lights and dishes was overturned. Mary fainted. At last the frantic clutch of Rizzio on Mary's robe relaxed, and he was dragged out into a narrow passageway and stabbed repeatedly, until his shrieks were hushed in death. Those who have visited Holyrood will recollect the stain upon the floor said to have been caused by his blood.