Description:

Mary Queen of Scots Dress Lace Worn During Rizzio's Murder, 1566

A stunning piece of British history comes in the form of a large piece of lace taken from the dress of Mary, Queen of Scots. A cream strip of lace, measuring 7.5" x 8.5", No place [Edinburgh, Scotland], Ca. 1566. With delicate and elaborate floral stitching. The lace has been mounted to a red cloth background and framed to the overall size of 11.5" x 14.5". With a printed label reading, "Part of the dress worn by MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS at the time of the assassination of Rizzio by Darnley A.D. 15." With age toning and fading, along with light wear, the fabric is in remarkable condition. Wear and minor chipping to the frame. The lace was acquired from an experienced European book dealer.

David Rizzio (1533-1566) was an Italian courtier who became the private secretary to Mary Stuart around 1564. He was a talented musician and singer, which initially brought him to the queen's attention. The ambitious Italian saw his role as nearer to that of a Secretary of State, and soon other courtiers began to question his influence over Mary. Rumors soon developed that he and the queen were not only having an affair, but that she was pregnant with his child. Mary's husband, Lord Darnley, grew increasingly jealous of their friendship and soon turned murderous after rumors turned adulterous. On March 9, 1566, in a conspiracy led by Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven, Darnley and a group of Protestant nobles ambushed Rizzio while he was having dinner with Mary a few ladies-in-waiting. He accused his wife of adultery, after which Rizzio was murdered in front of the pregnant queen. It is alleged that he was stabbed a total of 57 times, and the spot where he was killed in Holyrood Palace is still marked with a red stain on the floorboards.

The murder would end up being the catalyst for Darnley's downfall, as he himself was murdered almost exactly 11 months later (eight months after the birth of the future King James VI of Scotland and I of England). He and his valet were killed by an explosion on the night of February 9, 1567. To this day, some believe that Mary may have been involved in the plot, although this has never been proven. Mary was forced to abdicate five months later in favor of her one-year-old son. After an unsuccessful attempt to regain the throne, she fled southward seeking the protection of her first cousin once removed, Elizabeth I of England. However, perceiving the Catholic Mary as a threat, Elizabeth had her confined in various castles and manor houses throughout England. After eighteen and a half years in captivity, Mary was ultimately found guilty of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth in 1586 and was beheaded the following year.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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March 30, 2022 10:30 AM EDT
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