in their wet garments as they were returning speedilie to Loreto to render due thankes to our B. Ladie they prostrated their bodies on the ground before her Sacred Image and with trickling teares gaue hartie thaÌ„kes to God his B. Mother for their deliuerie Among the Guardians of Loreto there was one Bernardine Galiard a man of good credit and of long time host to the Capuchines with whome they lodged both before they weÌ„t to Ancona and after they returned to Loreto Who intertayning these FranciscaÌ„s of whom I haue spoken all wet with the sea demanding the cause therof at last they opened it vnto him with this condition that he should coÌ„ceale their names Wheruppon Galiard suppressing their names related it to others as he receiued it from them A yong man is deliuered from the whirle-poole of a Riuer CHAP. XVI BY the fauour of the B. Virgin of Loreto Trad. Laur. Annal. Laur. Rier an other eschewed nolesse daÌ„ger in a Riuer than the Franciscans did in the sea Angelus Autanus a yoÌ„g maÌ„ in the Territory of Salerno of great toward lines pietie went into the Riuer Vulturnus which passeth by Capua to wash his bodie with a fellow and companioÌ„ of his But his fellow going forward without regard and falling into the vnknowne whirl-pooles of the Riuer was in great danger of drowning Whereuppon Autanus making hast to aide his coÌ„panioÌ„ in hazard fell himself into the same danger out of which he laboured in vaine to deliuer the other For he himself being swallowed vp among the whirl-pooles of the swift streame but after some time cast vp againe from the bottome in the conflict of death called on our B. Ladie of Loreto as well as he could and the B. Virgin whome he inuocated was presently at hand who taking the young man out of the whirle-poole when he was almost dead receiued him into her lap and carrying him ouer the riuer for the space of a mile sett him downe in a conuenient shore Who remayned long amazed with dread of the danger and of the miracle But assoone as he came to himself he acknowleged the heauenly benefit fell downe on his knees and carefully saluting our B. Ladie his deliueresse with thankfullnes extolled her worthie praise and out of hand went to Loreto to worship the moher of God and to publish the miracle A maide of Loreto is deliuered out of a well a Cittizen of Caieta out of prison CHAP. XVII NEither did Loreto it self want the held of her Patronesse Trad. Laur. Annal. Laur. Rier in like danger of her people A yong maide coÌ„ming to draw water at a well in the Gouernours House of Loreto as she was accustomed let downe her bucket tied fast vnto a rope careleslie pulling it vp againe full of water with the weigh to the bucket tuÌ„bled headlong into the well calling on our B. Ladie of Loreto By chaÌ„ce one of the chiefe Ministers of the sacred House standing in a window and seeing the maid fall into the well implored the help of the B. Virgin in her behalfe and forth with with the rest of his houshold ranne vnto the well it self A wonder to be spoken When they saw that she was in no danger at all but sate on the water with ioyfull countenance in continent they let downe a great bucket fastened to a strong rope and warning the maide what she must do without delay endeauored to draw her vp who sitting in the bucket and holding the rope in her hands was a length brought to the top of the well but among so many hands vncertaine what to doo and rashly letting go the rope before any had holde of her she tumbled downe the same way againe Whereupon all that were present inuocating the Mother of God in her behalf the maid was conueyed downe againe to the water without any harme at all though many sherds of broken potts were vnderneath For which cause letting downe ladders they got her out a slower but a safer way and presently the maide her self tolde them how a Lady of great beautie did protect her as she fell into the well in whose handes she swomme on the water without any danger or grieuance at all The same also happened vnto her as she fell downe the second time for our B. Lady receiuing her with her hands made her to sit in her lappe vpon the water vntill ladders were sought out and fastened togeather to be let downe into the well that she might be preserued by this double miracle to be no small document of the B. Virgin of Loreto's protection But a man was as infallible an argument of her help at Rome as the maide was at Loreto A certaine Cittizen of Caeta borne of honest parentage but of litle courage and mâ—â—â—nimity and of a tender disposition by nature education being accused of murder by false witnesses was so frighted at the vnwonted sight of the torments that he had rather as often it chanceth suffer execution by confessing that which was false than auoide the same by denying it in torture Being condemned to die he washed away the blemishes of his soule by sacred Confession by exhortation of the Priest committed his cause to the heauenly Iudge intreating the assistance of the B. Virgin of Loreto His prayers were heard For within a while being ouertaken with a sweete sleepe he seemed to see the B. Virgin of Loreto who bidding him be of good comfort put him in hope of life and liberty Whereuppon the innocency of the man was presently knowne by miracle and the authors of that wickednes the workers of the false crime conuicted who suffered the same death which they prepared for the innocent A Bassa of the Turkes being cured by the B. Virgin of Loreto doth honour her with gifts CHAP. XVIII Trad. Laur. Annal. Laur. Rier NEITHER were the Barbarians deuoid of the help of Loreto Corcutus a President of the Turkes whome they call the Bassa being at ConstaÌ„tinople the yeare 1552. was brought into euident danger of death by a grieuous and a secret impostume of the brest A certaine honest and godlie Christian serued him as a slaue who thinking the danger of his maister the occasion of his liberty went vnto the President ready to dye and certifying him of the admirable power of the B. Virgin of Loreto in curing all manner of diseases put him in good hope of recouery and without great difficulty persuaded him to call on the B. Virgin of Loreto with him to make this vow If she tooke away his disease for her sake he would giue him liberty and release him from bondage Neither did the slaue deceiue his maister nor Marie her godly Client For within a while the impostume brake and the President was cured who giuing good testimonie therof set his slaue at libertie and sent him to the B. Virgin of Loreto with letters and gifts The gifts were a mantle of notable workmanship great wax candles no
the Prophetes Sybills Apostles and Euangelists curiously inserted amōg boughes flowers with such admirable needle-worke that I dare affirme scarce any thing in this kind euer to haue beene more curious more precious more admirable For it well appeareth by her owne hand-writing that the price amounted to eight thousand Crownes Notable veiles for holy Chalices and other such like were also presented with her other gifts The testimony and gift of a Spanish Priest honoured with a miracle CHAP. XXIII ABOVT that time Alfonsus Sancius a Spanish Priest both learned and godly hauing lately returned from the East and the Ilands of China called the Philippines came to visit the House of Loreto And before he departed thence I my self found him admiring the religion of the place and familiarly asking the cause of his wonder he answered me with admiration O good God! what manner of thing is this Truly I neuer felt the like vnto this nor neuer found God more present in all my life so doth a certaine heauenly sweetnes flow into my soule in this most sacred House He also recounted vnto me how he had beene at Vadalupe Monte-Seratto and other notable Houses of the B. Virgin in Spaine but neuer felt the grace of God so present for there seemeth to be the barke but heere indeed the marrow it self And obtayning of the Gouernour of Loreto by means of Cardinall Caietan in whose company he came to remayne all night in the holier part of the sacred Cell he passed the same in watching and prayer and afterward reported to his familiar friends that in all his life he neuer spent a more pleasant and more blessed night In regard whereof he desired to grace the most Maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin with some gift of his and hauing brought with him euen from China it self a white damaske vestment with this he determined to beautify the Nicet of the B. Virgin Mother of God and the Image of Christ Crucified which came with the sacred house A taylour therfore was sent for who spreading abroad and measuring the damaske first denied that there was stuffe inough for both those purposes But Sancius vrging him to measure it againe with more diligent care he staied a while and when he had often turned it to and fro he began to affirme that at last he had found a meanes to effect that which he desired but so that those ornaments would be something shorter then was fitting Go to therefore said Sancius and follow this course if any thing be wanting our B. Lady her self will supplie it He obeyed and lest there might be any suspition of errour he had the old ornature of the Nicet at hand according to which he determined to make the forme of the new and so cutt it out Sancius himself looking on and tooke it with him to his shoppe But the next day assoone as it was light the tailour came vnto him crying out like one dismayed Without doubt our B. Lady hath wrought a miracle in her ornament For the new furniture of her Nicet which yesterday was too short is now longer by a handfull Sancius followed the man into his shoppe to belieue his owne eyes and not his wordes and found that he reported no vntruth neither could he deuise any thing to hinder it from a miracle For he saw that the veile of the Crucifix which he caused to be made was iust and nothing at all diminished and the damaske was made of a certaine strange worke that the deceit of adding such as ours is could not deceiue one skilfull in such things albeit in such things no feare is to be had of adding but rather of diminishing Sancius himself with many others stood by the taylour when he measured and cut out the vestment that it may be euident no errour was committed by improuidence wherfore by him and others it was holden for a Miracle but we will leaue the thing indifferent Bracelets which were offered to the B. Virgin do fasten themselues on the hands of Christ her little Child CHAP. XXIV BVT this is not so meruailous for the gift it self as for the euent therof Beatrice Gazea a Matron of great delicacie and riches was married to a most worthy Cittizen of Rome who for deuotion comming to Loreto in the moneth of May the 93. yeare of this age forthwith went into the inward part of the sacred Cell where the most religious Image of the B. Virgin of Loreto holding the sweet child IESVS in her lap is scene and reuerenced neere at hand which is adorned with a most precious garment and decked in magnificent sort Praying there with feruour to Christ and his B. Mother Gazea had a great desire to behold the countenance and ornature of the B. Virgin with more attention And blaming the imperfection of her sight requested the keeper who at that time was Papyrius N. to shew her the Image of the Mother of God more exquisitly with the light of a torch He willingly condescended vnto it For with a burning torch he shewed her the B. Virgin and at her intreaty told also who gaue all the donaries that were about her Among the rest there was a frōtlet of oriēt pearle of good bignes and beauty dedicated to the B. Virgin by a Matron of Rome who being giuen to many delightes and pleasures lately departed this life albeit of a cruell kind of death yet very Christianlike and godly Beatrice hearing this woman named and knowing her familiarly forthwith burst into admiration Behold the cause why she by the grace of the B. Virgin had so godly an end of her delicate life Then turning to the keeper And I said she would willingly dedicate these bracelets then the which I esteeme nothing more to Christ and his B. Mother if I thought that the gift of a wicked woman would not be vngratefull vnto them The keeper animated the woman seeming too fearfull saying that Christ was the Sauiour and Marie the Patronesse of the wicked Wheruppon in continent she pulled of her bracelets made of antique worke of iewells and gold and gaue them to the keeper to be offered to Iesus and his B. mother And presently the Keeper tooke a little forke prepared for such vses and put theron both the bracelets to direct them to the most sacred Statua intending to hang them on the erected singers of the right hand of the sweet child Christ Iesus for at that present there was no fitter a place But as he was drawing backe the sticke he obserued that one of the bracelets remained on the forke and that the other hauing passed the singers of the sweet child Iesus was fastened on his hand so fitly that fitter it could not be A meruailous thing Though the Keeper saw it yet he thought it might be donne by chance But afterward putting the sticke thither againe nothing moued out of his place To hang there also the other bracelet there happened another vndoubted miracle For by little and
mornfull silence But when their astonishment was a little past they brake out all togeather into teares and plaints with wonderfull lamentation began to discouer the great domage of their nation To wit that the heauenly gift was but shewed to them and giuen vnto others that that refuge of Dalmatia that succour of the diseased that solace of the wretched that ornament and defence of their nation was taken from them that such a Patronesse of the Dalmatians and such a Protectresse of their neighbourly people had now forsaken them that they were altogeather vnworthy of such a pledge because they reuerenced it with lesse deuotion and care then they ought to haue done But what religion what care what reuerence of any people whatsoeuer can be answerable to that heauenly and most excellent gift If this were the cause why she changed her seat whersoeuer she is seated forthwith she may well change her seat againe This and such like moane they all made for the departure of it which the present feeling and griefe of their losse suggested vnto theÌ„ not easie for the writer to relate Finally being ouercome with wearisomnes rather then with the satietie of lamenting they went swarming to Frangipane the Pretor and there againe renewing their wayling they asked of him aduise and helpe And though he him selfe did need comfort as wounded with the coÌ„mon griefe more sorowfull theÌ„ was fitting for his part notwithstanding he ouercame him selfe and dissembling his sorrow asswaged the lamentation of the people with his authoritie and wisdome In very deed quoth he so it is that you haue receaued so greate a losse that Almightie God could hardly lay vpon you a greater for offending him that no teares no sighes no wayling is able to extinguish your griefe of mind But now truely you seeme to coÌ„plaine without cause seeing Almightie God hath graunted you the vse of the heaueÌ„ly gift without prescribing any time therfore there is no reason why you should grieue that it is required againe wheÌ„ he would haue it so that gaue it but rather should giue God thanks for granting you the vse of so great and so fruitfull a pledge for certaine yeares and should recoÌ„pence the preseÌ„t discoÌ„moditie with memorie of the former commodities And he promised them to do his best endeuour in some sort to supply the great losse which they had receiued by the departure of the heauenly gift and to satisfie their desire towardes so great a good For in the very impression of the most Sacred Chappell he was determined to erect such an other house to the B. Virgin that it might be as well a monument of so great a thing to posteritie as a solace to them for their grieuous losse whereby he was in good hope though the natiue House of the B. Virgin was wanting that her helpe would not be wanting vnto them And indeed the Presidents wordes were not more magnificent then his workes For within few yeares at his owne cost and charge he caused a new Chappel to be placed in the same impressions which was dedicated to the mother of God and inuironed it with a Church magnificent for workmanship and reuerence which at this day is extant for no lesse a monument of the Frangipanes munificence then of so great a miracle Neither did the B. Virgin suffer the wordes of the fouÌ„der of her Church to be vttered in vaine for afterward sundry miracles were wrought in that place to shew plainely that the seat it selfe was pleasing to the B. Virgin and her helpe not wanting to the Sclauonians And the said Church at this day is committed to the gouernment of the Franciscans The desire of the Dalmatians to the most sacred House which are called De obseruantia and is most famous for celebritie and fame in those partes But this did not so much extinguish as enkindle the Dalmatians desire to the House of Nazareth for it is now three hundred yeares since it departed thence yet they bewayle to remember that so great a good was taken from them as if the domage were newly done them Proofe is that yearly passing the Adriaticke sea and comming to Loreto in great troupes they do not seeme to do more reuerence to the natiue House of the B. Virgin then to lament the detriment of their nation whose solemne plaintes Returne to vs O MARY Returne to vs do not a little signifie that their desire shall be euerlasting seeing it is nothing at all abated in the space of three huÌ„dred yeares also witnes that the House of Nazareth was transported out of Sclauonie into Italy The Sacred House is transported into Picene seated in a wood of Recanati CHAP. VI. Praep. Terem Hier. Angel THIS heauenly gift was passed ouer into Italy very happily the yeare 1294. at which time Italy being diuided with the deadly factions of the Guelses Gibellines was all miserably vexed with hatreds and more then ciuill warres Therfore in the inter-raigne when Bonifacius the 8. was created Pope the fourth of the Ides of December a remarkable day and worthy euerlasting memorie the B. mother of God bringing peace and quietnes to Italy chose her House a seate in Picene * In ItaliaÌ„ called Marc-Aneona Picene is a Prouince of Italy of no small renowne and wealth situâ—ted ouer against Dalmatia the Adriaticke sea flowing betweene which also is called the Superum And this most sacred House being brought out or Dalmatia into Picene ouer the Adria icke sea where the passage is nâ—eâ—e an hundred miles was seated in a wood of the territorie of Recanati about a mile from the sea which belonged to a certaine matrone of Recanati both rich and godly whose name was Laureta of whom euer after bâ—ing called the House of Loreto it gaue immortall prayse to her from whom it tooke that name The report goeth neither is it without truth that the trees which were in the way as the little House of our B. Lady came thither bowed downe as it were to reuerence it and afterward remayned stooping vntill they were consumed with age with wind or with the axe And as long as the wood stood which at this present is cut downe the said trees were wont to be shewed to the Pilgrimes in a long ranke to witnesse so great a miracle Which some do yet well remember for a man of good credit tolde me that sundry times with great admiration he him selfe had seene very many of those trees not much aboue twentie yeares agoe that is to say stooping with all their bodies and bowing towards that part of the sea ouer which the most sacred House passed on high to her ordained seat in the wood And the same trees being preserued for deuotioÌ„ sake did also remaine long after the vnderwood was destroyed but at last about 20. yeares agone they were cutt downe by the foolishnes of the rude husbandmen lest they should hinder their tillage In the quiet night the
and Pontificall pompe and finallie for foure yeares togeather fullfilled his office in all things belonging either to diuine or humane seruice with great praise of religion and benignitie After whome succeeded Gaspar Contareno the Cardinall Card. Contareno Patron of Loreto a man famous for learning and pregnancie of wit and also a verie good Patrone of Loreto but of short cōtinuance by reason of death For whiles he worthilie gouerned the state of Loreto by Galeatius Floremonius who afterward was Bishop of Aquino with great expectation of his vertue he departed this life In whose place the Pope appointed Rodulphus Pius the Cardinall of Carpa Card. of Carpa Patron of Loreto a good Patron and of long continuance who trulie for his worthie pietie would haue gained to himself the surname of Pius though he had not receined it from his ancestours For there was neuer anie more carefull to adorne the sacred house as in the Church of Loreto and in the adioyned houses may well appeare where at this day are extant many and worthie monuments of his This meane while newes of the Turkish war being more and more spread abroad which Selime the Turkish Emperour threatened towardes Italie assoone as he subdued the kingdome of Tunis by Ariadenus Enobarbus Paul the Pope ioyned straight in league with Charles the Christian Emperour and with the Venetians and bent all his care and forces against the Turks first of all intending to prouide for the Church of Loreto but because his treasure was wasted with preparation for the war and scarcity of money hindered his godlie purpose he suffered not an occasion offered by chance to passe vnaccepted For at that time the Embassadours of Recanati came to Rome to the Pope The Embassage of the people of Recanati to Pope Paul the 3. to complaine that Loreto their ancient possession was taken from them by Iulius his Predecessour with great domage but with greater disgrace to their Cittie For who would haue thought that without a grieuous crime the Prince of Bishops and the Vicar of Christ would haue taken from the people of Recanati their most anciēt possessiō of Loreto against their wills for what desert of theirs should so shamefull a spot of infamie be laid on their well deseruing Cittie Whether because from the beginning she carefullie maynteined reuerenced with gists adorned with a Church graced with buildings for almost two hundred and fiftie yeares iustlie and holily gouerned the seate of the B. Virgin of Loreto When at anie time did the Magistrates of Recanati gouerne it with auarice or pride When was the protection of the Church of the Inhabitants or Pilgrims neglected How often haue the waies which were pestered with theeues and the audacitie of way-laiers been repressed And how often also hath the sacred house it self beene defended from hoflilitie with greate forces of armed men Beholde why the people of Recanati should willinglie recount these things For the B. Virgin mother of God transferring her natiue house into Italie chose her self a seate specially in our woode and changing the same three times within sew moneths departed not out of our territories but made three places of our liberties famous with her footsteps We therefore bestowed on her sufficient space for a Church we built the Church and the towne about her and we gaue to the Inhabitants both Magistrates and Lawes VVhich truely are of such importance and auaile so much that they may seeme to possesse that place by good right seeing they were depriued of their ancient possession without triall of their cause But if it may be thought fitt that the Vicar of God should restore to the people of Recanati the gift which God and his B. Mother bestowed vpon them indeed they will do their endeuour that neither the Pope nor they of Loreto shall repent them of the protection and gouernement of the Cittie of Recanati And that both parties may remaine satisfied the people of Recanati will refuse no condition that the most iust Pope shall impose vpon them when Paul had graciouslie heard the Embassadours he followed a certaine meane both to restore to the people of Recanati their right Loreto is restored to the Gouernment of the people of Recanati and notwithstanding to preserue the benefits of former Popes granted in fauour of the House of Loreto Whereupon with these conditions he restored to the Cittizens of Recanati their towne of Loreto exempting onely the Church and the Gouernours iurisdiction ouer townes-folkes and strangers to defend the sacred House of Loreto against the Turkes with a strong garrison to repaire the walles and fortifications as need required to make the wayes secure from theeues in fauour of the Pilgrims that came vp and downe Besides to repay into the Popes treasurie to the vse of the Turkish war eight thousand Crownes which Leo the tenth had spent in fortifying of Loreto So Loreto returned to the Iurisdiction and Gouernment of Recanati the 35. yeare of this age and about 20. yeares after it was made free by Iulius the second But assoone as Paul the Pope saw himself deliuered from the feare of this new war he thought good to enrich the House of Loreto with lands being now well defended with fortifications Whereupon by his command of the Magistrates Duûmuiri of Castro-Ficardo were purchased the woods neere to Loreto with the vineyards meadowes and Oliueries adioyning for which purchase he gaue six thousand Crownes out of his owne treasurie and also purchased other landes neere to the Riuer Musion and gaue them to the B. Virgin of Loreto A Fraternitie of Childrë is instituted to sing solemne praise laude to the B. Virgin of Loreto CHAP. III. AT that time the House of Loreto was not onelie enriched with wealth but also with Ministers For Paul the Pope verie well considering that the praiers of persect puritie were most acceptable to God and his B. Mother instituted a Colledge of twelue children where he appointed that the choicest and wittiest children of all Picene should be instructed to sing seruice with solemnitie in honour of our B. Ladie of Loreto In choosing of whome he commanded that regard should be had to the integritie both of bodie and minde and greate diligence of the best maisters to instruct them Speciall care was vsed that they might incline the most holie Virgin no lesse with the chastitie of their manners then with the sweetnes of their voices Who by the Popes appointment being brought vp and taught in a conuenient place called the Chanonry dayly at certaine houres song hymnes to our B. Ladie in her sacred Chappell beseeching peace and pardon of God and his B. Mother and intreating help and fauour for Italie against the furie of the Turks The Childrens pietie deceiued not the Pope nor the B. Virgin failed not the Childrens prayers For although the discord of the leaders made the nauie of the confederate Princes vnprofitable notwithstāding the B. Virgin herfelf brought peace
to Italie and vanquished the audacitie of the Turkes For shortlie after all controuersies betweene the Emperour and the King of France were so luckilie concluded that of sorrowfull war ioyfull peace came by and by to Italie Paul Iou. lib. 41. Annal. Laur. Rier And in the moneth of August vnder the conduct of Ariadenus Enobardus a great and strong nauie of Turkes threatning vtter ouerthrow to Italie was beaten against the rocks of Acroceraunion suffered shipwrack almost in sight of the House of Loreto it self By which shipwracke it is verie euident that the greatest part of their nauie was lost twentie thousand of the Barbarians swallowed vp in the sea almost all the Adriaticke shore couered with the carkasses of their enemies with weapons with bordes with munition and other signes of shipwracke Whose armour sloting vp towards Loreto being knowne on the shore almost before newes thereof could be brought made the ouerthrow of the enemies verie notorious Whereupon the people of Loreto and strangers reioyced that Almightie God and his B. Mother had heard the praiers of the children and of the godlie and that Almightie God himself reuenging their wickednes had also at last opened the eyes of their filthie pride For which cause they exhorted one an other to reuerence such a Patronesse with speciall honour by whose protection they saw all that coast of Italie deliuered from the present feare of the Turkes The Hospitall and the Spittle to receaue Pilgrims are opened the sacred House is adorned with buildings CHAP. IIII. AND the Pope himself being most glad of such newes and not to be more bountifull to the Inhabitāts than to strangers The Hospital and the Spitle opened the Hospitall of Loreto finished much about this time chieflie for the cure of diseased Pilgrims and appointed an other place without the walls for scabbed and leaprous people lest their infection might hurt the healthfull Then from the sicke turning his care to the sound he erected an Hospitall for poore Pilgrimes The Hospitalitie of the house of Loreto where they were well relieued for the space of three dayes and at their departure were furnished with bread wine shooes and money It is wonderfull how much this fame of Hospitalitie and Christian Charitie increased the deuotion of strangers and the wealth of the Church of Loreto all forraine nations allmost recompensing the benignitie which Loreto bestowed on their Pilgrims wherby we may see that true liberalitie towards the poore doth rather increase wealth than diminish it For lest the fountaine of their bountie should be wasted Almightie God doth make it to abound with riches and doth graciously bestow greater wealth on bountifull giuers that they may eftsoones the better giue vnto the needie Whiles these offices of Christian Charitie were feruent the workes of Loreto which Clement had begunne were not altogeather omitted For by commandment of Paul the Pope the hurtfull woods were cut downe the mystie lakes were dried vp the hills offensiue to the Sacred Seate were throwne downe to the ground At the same time the Bishops Pallace was forewarded the porch was built the thole of the Church was couered with sheetes of lead that magnificēt carued Crust of the most Sacred House which was not far from finishing was chiefelie sollicited And now at this time by the Popes authoritie the Architect pulled downe the old smoakie beame and the roofe and because the vauting of the sacred Chappell so required it he also beate downe the vppermost part of the walles adorned with semicircles and paynted potts togeather with the tops of the bell-turret and of the chymnie and built a solide vaut thereon supported more with the new then the old walles which at that time was bright and beautifull but now by reason of the aboundance of lights blacke and smoakie And lest the negligence of men should leese those things which necessitie had caused to be parted taken frō the maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin the sacred beames the rafters tiles and boardes and what els soeuer belonged to the roofe of the most sacred House was buried vnder the pauemēt of the same House and reserued there with record thereof that being remoued out of their due place they might chāge their place as litle as might be The Reliques of the Chappell of Loreto are honoured with miracles and propagate the religion of the Sacred House CHAP. V. THE earthen vessells and certaine Peeces of the vauted roofe being reserued for Sacred Reliques as they were partlie ministred occasion of miracles and partlie also carried the religion of the House of Loreto far and neere The ancient opinion is that those earthen Vessells were found long agone by the Apostles in the Armorie of the B. Virgin and therfore whē they cōsecrated her natiue House they cōmaunded that they should be put in the toppe of the walles of that Chappell not so much to adorne her sacred House as to preserue a religious memorie of those things No light coniectures do confirme this opinion which seeme to make it credible to many that those earthē Vessells were of the houshold stuffe of the Mother of God For as we may coniecture by them which at this day are extant they do not much differ from the meane sorte and such as are commonlie vsed and in bignes there is greate inequalitie among them whereas indeed the ornature of the Sacred House and the compasse of the semicircles required them to be of like equalitie that we may vnderstand they were not so much prouided for the ornature of the sacred Chappell as the ornament it self accommodated to them But whether they were of our B. Ladies housholde stuffe or els were prouided of purpose for the ornature of her sacred Cell onelie being dedicated togeather with her fortunate House with great reason they were euer religiouslie esteemed Yet now I find manie of them to haue perished pilfered away as I imagin to propagate the Religion of the B. Virgin of Loreto Wherupon diuers of them which were left were placed in the wall of the Church of Loreto by the doore which is in the side where at this day they remanie to be seene Few of thē are reserued without some miracle or other For I am sure that a Priest of Loreto of my acquaintance being much troubled with the head-ach was presently cured by applying a sacred potte vnto his head And an other Priest tormented with a grieuous feuer and drinking colde water in the same by and by had his sicknes taken away But the reliques of the sacred boardes carried the religion of the House of Loreto almost throughout the whole world For being dispersed abroad and distributed from one to another they came almost into all Countreys who esteeming them for sacred reliques as reason required they exceedinglie increased the reuerence of the B. Virgin of Loreto with whose religion as it may well be supposed they were after a certaine sort indued And it is verie likelie that
the money is kept and when he had prouided all things for that purpose craftily hid himself in the sacred Cell of the B. Virgin Whereuppon going about to execute his sacrilegious desire in the dead of the night he gathered the sacred Donaries of gold and siluer into one place And when he had opened the Arcke and the doores of the sacred Chappell he also assayed to burst open the leaues of the Church-doore it self which assoone as he had broken open he began to looke about to seeke the complice of his wickednes who at that very houre for so they had agreed was to be in readines in the Church porch to hide the sacred gifts and the money in an appointed place But beholde whiles he intentiuely looked about he saw a companie of armed people at hand a multitude of heauenly spirits as it was supposed watching the House of the B. Virgin whose vnexpected presence stroke him into so great feare that he speedily shut to the doores hid himself thinking they sought his life But the vnhappy man hauing escaped that danger as he thought and auarice egging him on began to aduenture the thing againe Wheruppon opening the dores of the Church againe and the third time to seeke out the complice of his mischiefe allwaies that heauenly company met him in armes and with all speed forced him to fly againe into the Church Hauing thus spent the night betweene hope and feare at last he was more sollicitous of his life then of the prey and determined to depart without his purpose For the morning being ready to approach he assayed to get away by a back doore of the Church but still being frighted with the encounter of that heauenly watch which we haue mentioned he fled back againe into the most sacred Cell where remained manifest signes of his attempted sacriledge that the place which was the witnes of his wickednes might also manifestlie declare the same And the keepers of the most sacred Chappell comming vpon him vnawares and finding the dores broken open and the sacred Donaries gathered into one place began easilie to suspect his intent and purpose And the lewd fellow himself trēbling with a guiltie cōsciēce seeming to discouer his intended wickednes was straight apprehended and being examined confessed the whole matter Wherefore with the partner of his filthie sacriledge he suffered deserued punishment to be no small document of the prouidence of Almightie God towards the well-fare and good of the sacred House of Loreto Two yong men are deliuered from the seruitude of the Diuell CHAP. XXXII MOREOVER other wicked and almost forlorne men were reduced to an honest life and to the way of saluation by the help of the B. Virgin of Loreto There was a certaine yong man as notorious for his birth as for his wicked life who in a quarrell receiued a grieuous wound in his knee for offending Alm. God for which cause he could not cure the wound vntill he began to mitigate the wrath of God For hauing wasted good part of his substance in physicke and surgerie the cure was more likelie to bring him into feare of greater incōuenience thē any good hope of recouerie Annal. Laur. Rier wherby he mightilie feared speedie death or at least perpetuall lamenesse For which cause reiecting help of Surgeons he put all his hope and trust in the B. Virgin of Loreto and repenting with teares the truest signes of pennance began to pacifie the wrath of God and to implore the help of his B. Mother making this vow vnto her if he escaped this danger he would go to the House of Loreto with gifts to giue her thankes A wonderfull thing to be sayd Speaking these wordes with great repentance of minde the wound was presentlie cured and he recouered perfect health of bodie But health restored to an vngratefull and dissolute man was almost his destruction who quite forgetting so great a benefit thought it not inough to neglect his vow vnles he also abused the benefit of his recouerie with the licenciousnes of his former life For being inclined to worser things at last he came to that passe by giuing himself wholy to lust that he had scarce the grace to repent So much were his later workes worse than his former He had beene vndone if Alm. God had not looked on the out-cast man and by heauenlie fauour brought him againe into the way of saluation For shortlie after he seemed to heare a silent voice bidding him go to Loreto and speedilie performe the vow which he had made and then lo he obeyed and went to Loreto to worship the Mother of God with gifts But no small thing to be spokē of preuented the fruite of his votiue pilgrimage For lust had so thralled him vnto her that still sticking in the same filth he refused to go to Confession though Alm. God reached forth his helping hand Yet because his conscience pricked him and permitted him to haue no rest first he began to go round about the sacred House of the B. Virgin and the place appointed to heare Confessions then leasurelie to view the forme of the Church and the votiue tables hanging about the walles within a while by impulsion of the wicked diuell he also departed out the Church it self but presently by heauēly grace returned thither againe You would haue thought he had beene mad and distracted in minde so far did it repēt him sometimes of his purpose sometimes of his pēnance And being scarce well in his wittes he was so disquieted in mind and in bodie that he could neither abide the sight of the Priests nor the remorse of his owne conscience And also being in great perplexitie and doubtfull what to doe he remayned three dayes in these cogitations But at last through the goodnes of God and his B. Mother new zeale of saluation was enkindled in him For by chance being present at diuine seruice he seemed to heare a voyce frō heauen blaming his delay commanding him to go to one of the Priests there prepared and to disburden his soule of his offences with purpose of better life That voice pierced and bowed his obstinate minde and so at last being ouercome or rather ouercōming all impediments he peesentlie changed his minde◠and did as he was commanded Whereby getting happilie out of the sinke of lust he washed away all the blemishes of his life with great aboundāce of teares and reioycing with heauenlie ioy as men are wont to doe gaue manifolde thankes to God and his B. Mother that he was twice deliuered from imminent danger of bodie and soule by her protection and fauour There was the like condition of an other yong mā the euēt not vnlike who being wholie giuen to lust those things that follow it in short time spent all his Fathers substance in wickednes filthines of life whiles he striued to bring himself to all naughtines dishonestie at last the matter came to that passe that he was
place from whence he had taken it long agoe Assoone as it was restored he recouered his former health The thing is well witnessed Iohn Baptista Carminata Superiour of the Society of IESVS in the Prouince of Sicily sent the sacred stone with letters declaring the whole matter to Rome to Cardinall Vastauillano Patron of Loreto who sent it straight to Leonorius Gouernour of Loreto with the letter which he receiued out of Sicily commāding that it should be carefully put into the place where it was before Wheruppon assoone as it came to Loreto Leonorius commanding a solemne procession and going to the gate to meet it recarried it to the most sacred House with the greatest pompe that might be A meruailous thing to be spoken and seene It was scant brought vnto the fortunate House of our B. Lady when by and by as if God had shewed it the voide place appeared whence it was euident that fragment was taken twenty yeares agone and assoone as it was put into his owne place againe a remembrance was made in token of the miracle to represse the boldnes of other Pilgrims About the same time the new rashnes of mortall men gaue God occasion to shew new example in the lesser peeces of stones I finde many exāples of many who aduēturing the same quickly smarted for their folly vntill they had learned by their owne harme to restore that which they had takē frō thence But we will omit them lest many things of one kind should breed tediousnes Neither did Almighty God seeme to be more carefull to preserue the sacred stones thā the morter wherwith the stones themselues are ioyned togeather Alexandria is no meane Citty of Lombardy built and so called by the Confederate Citties in fauour of Pope Alexander the third A Cittizē of which place comming to visit the House of Loreto stole a litle morter out of the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin and returning home bruized it and put it into a siluer case togeather with an AGNVS DEI. But his foolish piety was nothing pleasing to God and his B. Mother For assoone as he hung that case about his wiues necke for what cause it is vncertaine the Prince of Diuells entred into her with no small company of his attendants wherwith the vnhappy womā being miserably vexed for the space of nine yeares to her husbands great griefe at last God of his goodnes sent her remedy Iohn Baptista Vauninus a Priest of the Society of IESVS preached at that time to the people of Alexandria as the manner is Who vnderstanding of the matter by her husbād the author of so wicked a thing forthwith exhorted him to restore the sacred dust if he did no doubt but in short time his wife would be deliuered from diuells wherewith she was tormented He was easily persuaded For taking the sacred morter out of the siluer case he himself deliuered it to Vauninus beseeching him to send it to Loreto with all speed Their hope deceiued them not For within few daies three of the tormenting diuells were expelled out of the body of the possessed woman not so much by vertue of the Exorcismes as by the praier of our B. Lady Wheruppon Vauninus putting the said morter into a case sent it presently to Loreto to the Rector of the Society of IESVS intreating him by letter with all speed to restore it to the sacred House of our B. Lady whence it was taken and to intreate peace and pardon of the B. Virgin for that miserable woman that by expelling the rest of the tormēting diuells she would vouchsafe to restore vnto her her former health which afterward was found to haue happened as he desired And assoone as the morter was brought backe to Loreto it was reserued in a conuenient place to be a document to mortall men not to aduenture the like Also the letter of Vauninus dated on the third of the Ides of Nouember the yeare of our Redemption 1579. is preserued likewise there in token of the miracle A ship of Epidaurus is deliuered out of the hands of Pirats by a worthy Miracle CHAP. IX WITH a notable and a famous Miracle we will conclude the most worthy and most illustrious Popedome of Gregory About that time a shippe of Epidaurus being laden with rich merchandize of Constantinople returned to Epidaurus by the Commonalty called Ragusa Which in the mid-way suddainly sustained such quietnes and calme of sea that for want of wind she could not mooue out of the place Wherby many sculking Pirats were presently at hand who spreading round about began to assault the destitute ship withall their force And albeit the Christiās were fewer in number yet at first they notably withstood the assault of the Barbarians but at last being ouercome with labour and woundes they failed as equall vnto them neither in courage nor strength Wheruppon being in great danger of taking by the Barbarians and deuoutly calling to mind the manifold fauours of our B Lady of Loreto all called on her with humble supplication and vowed if she deliuered them out of that imminent danger they would carry a goodly Chalice to the House of Loreto for a gift and withall would there wash away the blemishes of their sinnes by sacred Confession Their praier and vow proued not in vaine For by by a thicke mist arising so obscured the light with her darknes that it tooke from the Pirats greedily desiring so wealthy a prey the sight of the ship of Epidaurus For which cause the Christians acknowledged the help of the Mother of God and exulting with ioy amidst their feare gaue deuout thankes to God and his B. Mother Contrarily the Barbarians raging and grieuing to see the prey taken out of their handes endeuoured what they could to recouer the ship which they had lost But in vaine For a certaine night as it were hanging ouer the sea tooke from thē the sight of the vessell which they pursued they thēselues wandred euen as men in darknes Meanwhile a prosperous winde blowing in the cloud carried the ship along which escaping all danger by fauour of our B. Lady arriued safe at Epidaurus whence the Marriners and Passengers came to Loreto to performe their vow And this was almost all that happened at Loreto whiles Gregory was Pope Loreto is made a Citty by Xistus V. and adorned with a Bishops Sea CHAP. X. AS Xystus V. the emulator of Gregory would not seeme his inferiour in other things so would he be accounted more forward and diligent in augmenting the state of the House of Loreto For being borne in Picene he thought good to adorne the chiefe Patronesse of the Picentians with all care Therfore as it were to execute the determination of Pope Marcellus the secōd he gaue Loreto the title of a Citty adorning her with a Bishops Sea assigning certaine townes there about to her Iurisdiction The first Bishop of Loreto was Francis Cantucius a Cittizen of Perugia famous for learning and sanctimony