In 1561 a young French nobleman, Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard, found himself in the retinue of the eighteen-year-old Mary Stuart as she returned from France to Scotland

In 1561 a young French nobleman, Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard, found himself in the retinue of the eighteen-year-old Mary Stuart as she returned from France to Scotland. In the course of the journey Pierre grew close to the queen and won her favour, so much so that in Scotland she even allowed him to ride the horse given to her by Lord Robert Stewart. The enchanted Frenchman presented Mary with a book of his verses. Their romantic attachment developed within the bounds of court etiquette: glances, conversations and notes. Until one day Pierre crept into the queen's bedchamber, where, it is believed, the maids found him. Mary magnanimously forgave this crime; perhaps he was simply shown out of the castle. But the story repeated itself, and on 14 February the Frenchman was either found under the royal bed for a second time, and moreover with sword and spurs, or he burst into the queen's apartments, catching her half-dressed and attempting to take her by force. In short, Mary ordered the importunate admirer to be put to death. The very next morning he was beheaded on a charge of treason, reciting love poems as he went to the scaffold. So much for love!