David Rizzio di Pancalieri

David Rizzio friend of Mary Queen Of Scots at Holyrood Palace - David Riccio (or David Rizzio) was born in Italy. He travelled to Scotland in 1561 with the duke of Savoy's ambassador. He sang before Mary Queen of Scots who subsequently appointed him a gentleman of the Privy Chamber and later secretary. His closeness to the queen aroused the suspicions of her husband, Lord Darnley, and of the Scottish nobles. One evening David Riccio was in the supper chamber at Holyroodhouse with the queen and her half-sister when lord Ruthven, George Douglas and the earl of Morton's men burst in, dragged him from the room, stabbed him and pushed him down the stairs. He was buried in the royal vault at the Abbey of Holyroodhouse.

Rizzio was stabbed 56 times. It is claimed that the bloodstains from Rizzio's body are still visible in the Outer Chamber

David Riccio died on 9 March 1566. The entry in the Old Parish Register (OPR) for Canongate is on the same page as that of the death of Lord Darnley and records that Seigneur David was murdered (slain) at Holyroodhouse.