Rizzio was born in
Pancalieri close to
Turin, a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in
Piedmont, the Riccio Counts of
San Paolo e Solbrito. Rizzio (whose name appears in Italian records as Davide Riccio di Pancalieri in Piemonte) went first from
Turin to the Court of the
Duke of Savoy, then at
Nice. However, finding no opportunities for advancement there, he found means in 1561 to get himself admitted into the train of
Carlo Ubertino Solaro, Count of Moretta, who was about to lead an embassy to
Scotland. This occurred thanks to his connections with Gerolamo della Rovere and Jean Morel— the latter being the recipient of the only extant letter written by him. The Count in Scotland had no employment for Rizzio and dismissed him. Rizzio however, had made friends with the Queen's musicians, who had come with her from France.
James Melville, a friend of Rizzio, said that "Her Majesty had three valets in her chamber, who sung three parts, and wanted a bass to sing the fourth part". Rizzio and Mary's musicians were employed as valets of her chamber and the royal accounts also call Rizzio her "chamber child". Other valets who were musicians include
Adrian Lefeau, John Adesoun (who played the lute), and
James Lauder. Mary bought matching clothes for three lute players in February 1562. One of the "sangstaris" was called Missall.
Secretary Rizzio was considered a good musician and excellent singer, which brought him to the attention of the cosmopolitan young queen. Towards the end of 1564, having grown wealthy under her patronage, Rizzio became the queen's secretary for relations with France, replacing
Augustine Raullet.
John Lesley wrote that Rizzio was "a very able man of business" employed to write the Queen's "private letters in French, Italian, and Latin". Rizzio was ambitious, controlling access to the queen and seeing himself as almost a Secretary of State. Other courtiers felt that as a
Catholic and a foreigner he was too close to the queen.
Relationship with Darnley and with Mary Rizzio became an ally of Lord Darnley and helped with plans for his
marriage to Mary.
George Buchanan described Rizzio gaining Darnley's favour. As their familiarity grew, Rizzio was admitted to Darnley's chamber, bed, and secret confidence.
David Calderwood later wrote that Rizzio had "insinuated himself in the favours of Lord Darnley so far, that they would lie some times in one bed together". George Buchanan wrote about events and plots in June 1565 before the royal wedding. He claims that Mary summoned her brother, the
Earl of Moray, to meet her at Perth. There, a quarrel between Moray and Darnley would escalate, Rizzio would strike the first blow, and others would ensure Moray was killed. Thomas Randolph described this plan differently, and his version does not involve Rizzio. Moray however did not come to Perth, but stayed at
Lochleven Castle. Rumours followed that Moray and the
Earl of Argyll planned to kidnap Mary and Darnley as they passed by
Kinross. Before the
wedding of Mary and Darnley, Rizzio was with the couple when they walked in disguise or
masque costume on Edinburgh's
High Street. After the marriage in July 1565, rumours became rife that Mary was having an adulterous affair with Rizzio. It was said (in 1568) that Mary and Darnley's love decayed after they returned from the campaign against Moray's rebellion, known as the
Chaseabout Raid, when Mary was "using the said David more like a lover than a servant, forsaking her husband's bed". According to the report of a French diplomat,
Paul de Foix, Darnley discovered Rizzio in the closet of Mary's bedchamber at Holyrood house in the middle of the night dressed only in a fur gown over his shirt.
George Buchanan included a similar story in his
History, that Darnley had a key to a secondary door to Mary's bedchamber, but found it locked or barred against him. Thereafter, he resolved to be revenged on Rizzio. Following Darnley's murder, Lord Ruthven, in the account known as ''Ruthven's Relation'', revealed that Darnley had described the circumstances of his jealousy to Mary. This account also focusses on Rizzio's presence in Mary's bedchamber:Since yon fellow Davie fell in credit and familiarity with your Majesty, you regarded me not, neither treated me nor entertained me after your wonted fashion; for every day before dinner, you would come to my chamber and pass time with me, and thus long time ye have not done done so; and when I come to your Majesty's chamber, you bear me little company, except Davie had been the third "marrow" [companion]: and after supper your Majesty hath a use to sit at cards with the said Davie till one or two of the clock after midnight; and this is the entertainment that I have had of you this long time. The chronicle account, the
Historie of James the Sext, tells the story in a different way, asserting that Mary's secretary,
William Maitland of
Lethington, was jealous of Rizzio's increasing power. Maitland made Darnley jealous of Rizzio, hoping that the naive king-consort would destroy his rival.
Wealth, possessions and costume His annual salary for the post of valet was 150 Francs or £75 Scots. The sum was paid from the "
Thirds of Benefices" as were some other household expenses, and not through the
treasurer's accounts. In 1565, Rizzio received £80 Scots in four installments paid by
George Wishart of Drymme, and he was paid £80 as his pension in 1566. Mary gave him gifts of rich fabric from her wardrobe, including black velvet figured with gold and five pieces of gold cloth figured with scales. It was said that Rizzio took bribes.
William Douglas of
Lochleven wrote that he offered Rizzio £5,000 to prevent the forfeit of the
Earl of Moray, but Rizzio refused, saying he would not act for £20,000. Rizzio's involvement with pardons for the Chaseabout rebels sparked Darnley's envy. According to a letter of
Thomas Randolph, Rizzio took part in a costumed
masque in February 1566 to celebrate the arrival of
Nicolas d'Angennes, seigneur de
Rambouillet, who brought the
Order of Saint Michael for Darnley. Mary gave Rizzio £200 in January 1566 to refurbish his chamber at Holyrood Palace. After his murder, it was noted that Rizzio had been living in wealthy circumstances. He was said to have £2,000 Sterling in gold coins, good clothing including 18 pairs of velvet hose, and his chamber at Holyroodhouse was well-furnished with a variety of hand-guns described as daggs, pistolets, and arquebuses, besides 22 swords. He was said to be wearing a very rich jewel at his neck when he was killed and also a satin doublet and a furred damask night gown, perhaps the garment mentioned in the earlier French report. == Murder ==