Chastelard,

Chastelard, PIERRE DE BOSCOSEL DE, a hapless French poet, born in Dauphiné about 1540, became a page in the household of the Constable Montmorency, afterwards in that of the Marshal Damville, and accompanied the latter to Scotland in his escort of Queen Mary (1561). Here he fell madly in love with the queen, and Mary was indiscreet enough to amuse herself with his passion, receiving without displeasure the amorous verses which the poet laid before her. Misinterpreting the goodwill of the queen, Chastelard ventured to conceal himself under her bed, was discovered and forgiven, but on a repetition of his offence at Burntisland early in 1563, where the queen was resting on her journey to St Andrews, was seized and executed on the following morning. He is the subject of a tragedy, the first of the trilogy devoted by Mr Swinburne to the history of Mary.