The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

In the Tolbooth was devised and named the Heads of the Articles that were drawn against the banished Lords; Upon the morrow and Saturday following, there was great reasoning concerning the Attainder; some alleged, That the Summons was was not well Libelled or Dressed; others thought the matter of Treason was not sufficiently proved; and indeed they were still seeking proof, for there was no other way but the Queen would have them all attainted albeit the time was very short; the twelfth day of March should have been the day, which was the Tuesday following.

In the Tolbooth was devised and named the Heads of the Articles that were drawn against the banished Lords; Upon the morrow and Saturday following, there was great reasoning concerning the Attainder; some alleadged, That the Summons was was not well Libelled or Dressed; others thought the matter of Treason was not sufficiently proved; and indeed they were still seeking proof, for there was no other way but the Queen would have them all attainted albeit the time was very short; the twelfth day of March should have been the day, which was the Tuesday following.

Now the matter was stayed by a marvellous Tragedy, for by the Lords (upon the Saturday before, which was the ninth of March, about Supper-time) David Rizio the Italian, named the French Secretary, was slain in the Gallery below Stairs (the King staying in the room with the Queen, told her, That the Design was only to take order with that Villain) after that he had been taken violently from the Queens presence, who requested most earnestly for the saving of his life; which act was done by the Earle of Morton, the Lord Ruthven, the Lord Lindsay the Master of Ruthven, with divers other Gentlemen. They first purposed to have hanged him, and had provided Cords for the same purpose; but the great haste which they had, moved them to dispatch him with Whingers or Daggers, wherewith they gave him three and fifty strokes. They sent away and put forth all such persons as they suspected.

Now the matter was stayed by a marvellous Tragedy, for by the Lords (upon the Saturday before, which was the ninth of March, about Supper-time) David Rizio the Italian, named the French Secretary, was slain in the Gallery below Stairs (the King staying in the room with the Queen, told her, That the Designe was onely to take order with that Villain) after that he had been taken violently from the Queens presence, who requested most earnestly for the saving of his life; which act was done by the Earle of Morton, the Lord Ruthven, the Lord Lindsay the Master of Ruthven, with divers other Gentlemen. They first purposed to have hanged him, and had provided Cords for the same purpose; but the great haste which they had, moved them to dispatch him with Whingers or Daggers, wherewith they gave him three and fifty strokes. They sent away and put forth all such persons as they suspected.