On the night of the murder the royal guards were overpowered and the palace was turned over to the control of the rebels. The Queen was six months pregnant (with James VI) at the time, and some accused Rizzio of having impregnated her. The rebels burst into the supper room, led by Lord Ruthven, and demanded that Rizzio be handed over. The Queen refused. Rizzio then hid behind Mary but was nevertheless seized. Mary would allege that one of the intruders, Patrick Bellenden (brother of the Lord Justice Clerk), pointed his gun at her pregnant belly Peter Anderson, Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney Lord of Shetland (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1982), p. 48. while Andrew Kerr of Faldonsyde threatened to stab her. Lord Ruthven denied this.Thomas Wright, Queen Elizabeth and her Times, vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 229-30.
On the night of the murder the royal guards were overpowered and the palace was turned over to the control of the rebels. The Queen was six months pregnant (with James VI) at the time, and some accused Rizzio of having impregnated her. The rebels burst into the supper room, led by Lord Ruthven, and demanded that Rizzio be handed over. The Queen refused. Rizzio then hid behind Mary but was nevertheless seized. Mary would allege that one of the intruders Patrick Bellenden (brother of the Lord Justice Clerk), pointed his gun at her pregnant belly Peter Anderson, Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney Lord of Shetland (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1982), p. 48. while Andrew Kerr of Faldonsyde threatened to stab her. Lord Ruthven denied this.Thomas Wright, Queen Elizabeth and her Times, vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 229-30.