Darnleywaseighteenyearsofage：hewashandsome，well-made，elegant；hetalkedinthatattractivemanneroftheyoungnoblesoftheFrenchandEnglishcourtsthatMarynolongerheardsinceherexileinScotland；sheletherselfbedeceivedbytheseappearances，anddidnotseethatunderthisbrilliantexteriorDarnleyhidutterinsignificance，dubiouscourage，andafickleandchurlishcharacter。
Itistruethathecametoherundertheauspicesofamanwhoseinfluencewasasstrikingastherisenfortunewhichgavehimtheopportunitytoexertit。WerefertoDavidRizzio。
DavidRizzio，whoplayedsuchagreatpartinthelifeofMaryStuart，whosestrangefavourforhimhasgivenherenemies，probablywithoutanycause，suchcruelweaponsagainsther，wasthesonofaTurinmusicianburdenedwithanumerousfamily，who，recognisinginhimapronouncedmusicaltaste，hadhiminstructedinthefirstprinciplesoftheart。Attheageoffifteenhehadlefthisfather’shouseandhadgoneonfoottoNice，wheretheDukeofSavoyheldhiscourt；thereheenteredtheserviceoftheDukeofMoreto，andthislordhavingbeenappointed，someyearsafterwards，totheScottishembassy，RizziofollowedhimtoScotland。Asthisyoungmanhadaveryfinevoice，andaccompaniedontheviolandfiddlesongsofwhichboththeairsandthewordswereofhisowncomposition，theambassadorspokeofhimtoMary，whowishedtoseehim。Rizzio，fullofconfidenceinhimself，andseeinginthequeen’sdesirearoadtosuccess，hastenedtoobeyhercommand，sangbeforeher，andpleasedher。ShebeggedhimthenofMoreto，makingnomoreofitthanifshehadaskedofhimathoroughbreddogorawell-trainedfalcon。Moretapresentedhimtoher，delightedatfindingsuchanopportunitytopayhiscourt；butscarcelywasRizzioinherservicethanMarydiscoveredthatmusicwastheleastofhisgifts，thathepossessed，besidesthat，educationifnotprofoundatleastvaried，asupplemind，alivelyimagination，gentleways，andatthesametimemuchboldnessandpresumption。HeremindedherofthoseItalianartistswhomshehadseenattheFrenchcourt，andspoketoherthetongueofMarotandRonsard，whosemostbeautifulpoemsheknewbyheart：thiswasmorethanenoughtopleaseMaryStuart。Inashorttimehebecameherfavourite，andmeanwhiletheplaceofsecretaryfortheFrenchdespatchesfallingvacant，Rizziowasprovidedforwithit。
Darnley，whowishedtosucceedatallcosts，enlistedRizzioinhisinterests，unconsciousthathehadnoneedofthissupport；andas，onherside，Mary，whohadfalleninlovewithhimatfirstsight，fearingsomenewintrigueofElizabeth’s，hastenedonthisunionsofarastheproprietiespermitted，theaffairmovedforwardwithwonderfulrapidity；andinthemidstofpublicrejoicing，withtheapprobationofthenobility，exceptforasmallminority，withMurrayatitshead，themarriagewassolemnisedunderthehappiestauspices，29thJuly1565。Twodaysbefore，Darnleyandhisfather，theEarlofLennox，hadreceivedacommandtoreturntoLondon，andastheyhadnotobeyedit，aweekafterthecelebrationofthemarriagetheylearnedthattheCountessofLennox，theonlyoneofthefamilyremaininginElizabeth’spower，hadbeenarrestedandtakentotheTower。ThusElizabeth，inspiteofherdissimulation，yieldingtothatfirstimpulseofviolencethatshealwayshadsuchtroubletoovercome，publiclydisplayedherresentment。
However，Elizabethwasnotthewomantobesatisfiedwithuselessvengeance：shesoonreleasedthecountess，andturnedhereyestowardsMurray，themostdiscontentedofthenoblesinopposition，whobythismarriagewaslosingallhispersonalinfluence。ItwasthuseasyforElizabethtoputarmsinhishand。Infact，whenhehadfailedinhisfirstattempttoseizeDarnley，hecalledtohisaidtheDukeofChatellerault，Glencairn，Argyll，andRothes，andcollectingwhatpartisanstheycould，theyopenlyrebelledagainstthequeen。ThiswasthefirstostensibleactofthathatredwhichwasafterwardssofataltoMary。