344 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 66. April. tholics watched eagerly for the news which was to make their satisfaction complete. 'The Prince was gasping when the post left,' wrote Meiidoza on the 4th I4th of April. ' The physicians gave no hope, and the Queen hears that all is over. We may assume his death as certain, and we can but give infinite thanks to God that he has tims chastised so abominable a heretic and rebel.' l ' We have news from Antwerp of the 9th I9th,' he wrote a week after. 'The Prince was still alive, two surgeons holding the wound closed with their fingers, and reliev- ing one another every hour. On the yth lyth, con- ceiving that in human reason it was not possible for him to live, they laid open his right cheek in the hope of reaching the injured vein. We may suppose it to be the good providence of God to increase his agonies by prolonging his life. The pain which he suffered, they say, is terrible. In the opinion of those here, a few hours must now bring an end.' 2 Mary Stuart's gratification was no less than that of the Spanish ambassador. 'I have heard/ she said, ' that an artery is cut, and that the Prince is in danger. I praise God for this his mercy to the Church, and to the King my brother, the Church's chief protector.' 3 1 Mendoza to Philip, April 4 14: MSS. Simancas. 2 Mendoza to Philip, April u 21 : MSS. Ibid. 8 ' J'ai eu advis du danger au- quel estoit dernierement le Prince d' Orange par le grand flux de sang que luy estoit survenu d'un artere, dont je loue Dieu en consideration du bien qu'en reviendroit a son Eglise et au Koymonbonfrere,aujourd'huy principal protecteur d'elle.' Marie Stuart a Don Bernardino, Avril 22 Mai 2 : MSS. Ibid.
