David Rizzio and Mary Queen of Scots: Murder at Holyrood

David Rizzio came to Scotland from Italy in 1561. He quickly rose to power and became secretary to Queen Mary. He exerted considerable influence and was perceived to be a threat to English interests by Sir William Cecil. On the evening of the March 9, 1566 he was murdered by her jealous husband Lord Darnley and others.

David Tweedie is a Scot among whose ancestors are two of Rizzio's murderers, Adam Tweedie of Drava and William Tweedie of Drummelzier. After reading history at Oxford he qualified as a solicitor and was a member of the American Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of both the Society for Reformation Studies and the Marie Stuart Society.