because greater diligence was vsed not only to deliuer them to posteritie but also to preserue thē by record that they might come safe to our age and handes The Indulgences and benefits of Martin the V. Martin therfore bringing peace and quietnes to the Church desired nothing more then to leaue the House of Loreto famous for miracles and wonders graced with some gift of his wherupon granting many great Indulgences to the most sacred House he inuited all to visit reuerence the Chappell of Loreto chiefly in the moneth of September Moreouer about the 20. yeare of that age this benefit he augmented with an other instituting solemne faires at Recanati to the praise glory and honour of the B. Virgin of Loreto as in the Apostolicke Breue he deliuereth ayming at that which prooued true that by propinquitie and neerenes of the places the celebritie of the mart of Recanati would also increase the celebritie of the House of Loreto seeing the choise of wares might draw the bordering people and Indulgences of sinnes those marchants to reuerence the sacred House which Indulgences he granted for three monethes answerable to the mart of Recanati so that in any part of Septēber October and Nouember all which the mart of Recanati was to be held these Indulgēces might be gained at Loreto by them that with due deuouotion went to visit the House of the B. Virgin Afterward many Popes following the example of Martin as Iulius the 2. Xystus the 4. and Leo the 10. as in due place shall be said confirmed the mart of Recanati by their authoritie and graced the Church of Loreto with Pontificall benefits But vnder Martin the V. not only the celebritie but also the ornaments of the House of Loreto had good increase For the goodly buildings now called the Chanonry were raised on the south side for the Priestes which voluntarily came to serue in the House of Loreto And also a Pallace and an Hospitall were then built to entertaine as well the noble as the poorer sort of Pilgrimes The wealth of the Church of Loreto in time of Pope Eugenius the IIII. CHAP. XXIII EVGENIVS succeeded Martin but he was so troubled with the garboiles of the Cittie and with the wicked decrees of the Coūcell of Basill now corrupted and also with the schisme of Felix V. the Antipope and so solicitous for the Councell of Florence which him selfe had summoned that he had almost no leisure to thinke of adoring the House of Loreto Notwithstanding Flauius Blondus Secretarie to Eugenius The testimonie of Flauius Blondus and no obscure historiographer of those times performing as it were the Popes duetie graced the Cell of Loreto with these eloquent wordes Betwixt Recanati and the Adriaticke Sea sayth he a litle from the Riuer Musion in an open and vnsensed towne is seated the most famous Chappell of the glorious Virgin MARY in all Italy called our Lady of Loreto In which that the prayers of suppliants are heard of Almightie God by the intercession of his B. mother this is a great and a most certaine argument that they who haue obtained their vowes haue hung vp donaries of gold siluer wax cloth linnen wollen of great estimation and worth filling almost all the whole Church which the Bishop preserueth vntoucht to the glorie of God and of his B. Mother Whereby it well appeareth what fame what religion and what celebritie the House of Loreto was of also what varietie and plentie of donaries it had Eugenius the fourth being Pope that is to say about the yeare of our Redemption 1450. which being famous and memorable for the Iubiley increased the celebritie and the wealth of Loreto as it was wont to do About the same time by the instigation of Philip Vicecount Duke of Milan Blond lib. 5. Dec. 3. Sabel l. 2. En. 10. Francis Ssorza making warre against the Pope and bringing Picene by force and policie into his power the victor purposed to visit the most illustrious Church of our B. Lady of Loreto But Iohn Vitellescus Bishop of Recanati Iohn Vitellescus Bishop of Recanati an actiue a wise man gouerning Picene with great command and fearing lest the Chappell of our B. Lady very wealthy by reason of so many donaries might be ransackt by a souldier puffed vp with victorie went about to remooue the occasion of auarice and conueying the chiefest ornaments of the Church of Loreto secretly into a shippe prepared for that purpose he himselfe speedily transported them first to Venice then to Rauenna to take away the occasion of sacriledge and to preserue the sacred donaries in safetie and after that tempest was asswaged brought them backe againe to Loreto But the protection of the B. Virgin was not doubtfull in defending her owne House in time of these stirres For when so many armies of Ssorza of the Pope and of Alsonsus King of Naples wandered freely vp and downe all Picene in this long and cruell war and so many Captaines of bāds came to Loreto yet in the ransacking of so many townes and Citties a village vnfortified and famous for the wealth of the Church as then things stood remained alwayes vntoucht and vndefiled so much either the sanctitie of the place or els the protection of the B. Virgin towardes her owne state preuailed with mortall men The House of Loreto is enriched with Indulgences by Nicolas the V. and fortified against the force of the Turkes CHAP. XXIIII AFTER the death of Eugenius The benefites of Nicolas the V. Nicolas the 5. receiued the Popedome who not to be ouercome by Martin in honouring of our B. Lady Hiero. Angel graced the Cell of Loreto with Pontificall giftes For knowing that the festiuall day of the B. Virgins salutation by the Angell was most famous and memorable in that House because God him selfe put on humane nature the same day in that very place he adorned the most ioyfull light in which was layd the foundation of mans saluation with an anniuersarie Indulgence wherby the Church of Loreto as the memory of so great a mysterie well deserued yearely on that day began to be exceedingly reuerenced And when Nicolas had adorned the House of Loreto with these Indulgēces he thought good also to prouide for the wealth of the same straitly ordaining that the donaries of Loreto should not be alienated nor sold suspending the Bishop of Recanati from his function in the Church if hereafter he presumed to diminish the lest iote therof or turne them to other vses And if he did not recouer them already sold and dispersed within the space of a moneth he should be put out of his Bishopricke Also in the same Breue he gaue commandment to the Cittizens of Recanati both to recouer and defend the donaries of Loreto Not only in peace but also in warlike tumult the worthie pietie of Nicolas the Pope was very notable towardes the House of Loreto For about that time Mahomet king of the
parentage fame being Generall of the Popes Nauy was commanded to set forward against the Turks with all speed Whose wife Felix Vrsina a woman of like Nobility fearing that she might be depriued of husband and children thought it her safest course to recurre to the B. Virgin of Loreto in so many aduentures of war by sea Whereuppon she came to Loreto with an honourable traine not doubting but by the intercession of the Mother of God the King of Heauē would be merciful to her husbād After she had receiued the sacred mysteries she remayned deuoutly all night in the most sacred Cell hūbly beseeching pardon help of God his B. Mother for her self her husbād And assoone as she had reuerēced the B. Virgin with feruent deuotion and votiue gifts in honour of our B. Lady she was God-mother at Baptisme to a yong man of the Hebrew nation on whome bestowing a chaine of gold she receiued him into her family Neither was her supplication and fauour vnrewarded For within a short time she obtained her vow receiued her husband not only safely returned from so cruell a battaile with victorie but also with great ioy beheld him triumphing with notable pompe in the Cittie of Rome after the ancient manner of the Romanes But in the same warre Pius the Pope receiued as certaine help from the B. Virgin of Loreto in behalfe of the publicke cause as she did in the priuate matter For he commanded the Christian nauie to be in readines and verie carefull about the battaile knowing verie well that the Christian State did depend therof Meane time Pius V. the Pope pious indeed vsed all diligence to pacifie Almightie God both by publicke and priuate prayer speciallie in the most maiesticall Cell of Loreto he cōmanded that continuall prayer should be made vnto the Mother of God that in the extreme danger of their State the godly Mother would vouchsafe to assist and aide the Christians The hope of Pius the Pope and of Godly men deceiued them not For when the battaile at sea was begunne a thing not so much of humane as of heauenly vertue fauour was seene For the winde turning for the Christians which before the battaile was against them and beating the smoake of the ordinance and the muskets of the enemies on their owne heads a most famous victorie was gotten of Barbarians most of the enemies were slaine their shipps sunke or taken a great prey a multitude of Captiues aboue ten thousand Christians were deliuered from their seruitude wherof trulie the far greater part came afterward to Loreto to performe their vowes And it is certaine that the very day of the fight before the trumpets sounded the Christian slaues whome the Turkes had condemned to the oar made vowes to our B. Lady of Loreto for their liberty and the like also did many Captaines and souldiours of the Christian Nauy for life and victory that none may doubt but next after God so worthy a victory was due to the Mother of God Wherefore not onely the slaues of the Turkes which rowed but also many souldiours and Christian Captaines came to Loreto to giue due thankes to God and our B. Lady and to performe their vowes And both the one and the other would haue monuments of the heauenly benefit to remaine there Annal. Laur. Rier For some left with their Deliueresse the chaines wherewith they were fettered to the oars and others dedicated vnto her as author of the victory the spoile which they got from the enemy And this was the last and I know not whether the greatest of all the humane workes of Pius Quintus The sacred House is adorned by Gregory the xiij with Indulgences and notable wayes CHAP. XXII GREGORIE the xiij succeeded Pius Annal. Laur. Rier who as in the longnesse of his raigne so in deuotion towards the B. Virgin of Loreto and in greatnes of minde he passed the former Popes For he had nothing in greater estimation then most munificently to adorne the most famous Church of the whole world not onely in confirming the Indulgences of former Popes by his authority but also by his wisdome augmenting them giuing remission of sinnes to all that rightly visited the sacred House of Loreto Moreouer he increased the authority of the Penitentiaries and gaue them faculty to absolue all religious persons from reserued sinnes This truly was a worthy fauour of Gregory who publishing the celebrity of the Iubiley for the 75. yeare of this age suspēding all the Indulgences of the whole world in fauour of the Cittie as the manner is thought it good to exempt this one House of Loreto which no lesse then in other yeares he would haue to enioy all her Priuiledges this holy yeare of the Roman celebrity lest the frequencie to Rome should diminish peoples deuotion and reuerence to our B. Lady of Loreto Also when the yeare of Iubiley was ended he granted that very Indulgence which was at Rome to the Church of Loreto which many gayning at Rome might get againe at Loreto if they performed the conditions And shortlie after Gregory began a magnificent worke worthy such a Pope and the Maiesty of Loreto it self For well knowing that euen in many places of the Popes Dominions the waies which went to Loreto were so difficult and strait that they scarce affoarded free passage to horse or man and thinking it would be glorious to B. Mary of Loreto to haue them so broad so repaired that it might easilie securely be gone vnto with coaches he opened and playned the chiefest wayes through Rockes and Cliffes with such Princely cost that they may be compared to any munificent workes of the anciēt Romanes in this kind For in the very toppe of the Apennines the way is so broad that wagons meeting togeather may passe without any danger at all Whereby the Pope effected which vnles we saw donne none would belieue could be donne that with Chariots Coaches here might be free passage ouer the Apennine Mountaines frō the Citty not onely into Picene but also into Aemilia Lōbardy Polony Germany it self So that now out of the remotest partes of the Christian world many come in wagons Coaches to visit the sacred House of Loreto the commodity of the way inuiting those whome before the difficulty therof did hinder Meantime by the cheefest wayes about Loreto already couered with grauell or stone Saxatellus made goodly fountaines to be no small ornament to the Pilgrimage of Loreto and comfort to the Pilgrims themselues The celebrity of Loreto in the yeare of Iubiley CHAP. XXIII IN the meane time whiles these waies were in hand the yeare 1576. which was remarkable for the celebrity of the Iubiley without the Cittie such a multitude of people resorted to Loreto as the like was neuer remembred In very deed the pompe was so notable that it will be memorable to all posterity Euery day seauen eight and sometimes ten Citties little
the presence of Almightie God in so much that there is none though desperat wicked but if he visit the house of Loreto may not easily perceiue Almightie God to be present with his B. Mother in his Mothers litle House This is speciall and proper to the Church of Loreto to haue her religion and sanctitie to florish euery day more and more which may easily appeare in comparison of other famous Churches either of our B. Lady or els of other Saints For when their celebritie and reuerence hath florished for a certaine time we know that it hath diminished by litle and litle but by the space of so many ages we euidently see that because the maiestie of this Church is grounded on most firme foundations it doth daily become more glorious and more holy VVherfore Almightie God and his B. Mother assisting vs of whom this whole worke doth intreate and on whose helpe we most relie we will now beginne the History it selfe which truely through their gracious fauour will not be so painfull I hope vnto the writer as profitable vnto the reader And albeit the beginning of the House of Loreto be scarce deriued aboue three hundred yeares yet necessarily must it be deduced higher that the whole discourse may more purely flow from the head and fountaine it selfe THE NATIVE HOVSE of our B. LADY is reuerenced with great honour in Galiley whiles the Christian faith remaineth in Palestine CHAP. I. THE natiue house of the B. Virgin in time past was in Galiley a Prouince of Syria where in the towne of Nazareth our B. Lady herself was borne and brought vp where she conceiued our eternall God by foretelling of the Angell And where the footstepes of God and his F. mother soueraigne to mankind were first imprinted The sanctitie of which place was neither vnknowne nor at any time neglected of godly people For first of all it is wel knowne that our B. Lady hath alwayes beene of great name veneration among Christians wherof the Apostles thēselues were the authours The Apostles consecrate the h use of our B. Lady who rightly consecrated the B. Virgins house either to preserue the memorie therof to posteritie or els to increase the Christiā religion therby From which time the Apostles themselues reuerenced it with exceeding honour and also cōmanded that others should worship it with like deuotion And the Apostles authoritie preuailed with posteritie For all succeeding ages haue cōtendingly reuerēced the birth-place of the heauenly Queene the stepps of Gods Conception with such deuotion and honour as it deserued Therfore about 300. yeares after Christes Natiuitie Christian affaires beginning then to flourish with long peace renewing all thinges vnder the protection of Constantine the Great S. Helene the Empresse adorned this little House of the Blessed Virgin with a goodly Church For pilgrimaging into Palestine as Nicephorus deliuereth and with sacred buildings adorning the places which were sanctified with diuine mysteries S. Helen doth adorne it vvith a Church lib. 8. ca. 30 She came to Nazareth and finding out the House of the Angelicall Salutatiō built there a sumptuous Church Frō which time those holy places began to be reuerenced more then before not only by the Asians and Africans but of the Europians also and the natiue House of our B. Lady glorious for the heauenly Embassage and Conception of the diuine issue was more earnestly reuerēced of godly people Proofe is that S. Hierome a pillar of the Roman Church S. Hierom S Paula do visit it and B. Paula a woman of the chiefest nobilitie of Rome visiting that holy Land went as S. Hierome termeth it to Nazareth the nourcerie of our Lord. And this deuotion continued many ages Epist 27 ad Eusto for about the 700. yeare of our Redemption when Hierusalem was taken by the Saracens by force of armes the sacred places of Syria Guil. Tyr. lib. 1 bell Sac. and the Church wherin was the House in which the Angell saluted our B. Lady was visited of the Europian pilgrimes Author hereof is Venerable Bede soone after that age for the State of Hierusalem De loc Sanc. and of the Christians in Palestine was not then so bad vnder the Saracens as afterward it was vnder the Turkes who conquering Syria and Hierusalem about the yeare of our Redemptiō Guil. Tyr. lib. 1 one thousand and fiftie began to dishonour the Christian name many reprochefull wayes The same wherof incensed Pope Vrbane the second Idem lib. ◠by a new Breue to proclaime sacred warre In which by the forces of the Europians but specially of the French nobilitie vnder the conduct of Godfrey Duke of Loraine Paul Aemil. lib. 4. Hierusalē is recouered Hierusalem and Palestine were recouered about the yeare one thousand one hūdred Wherby as long as the Kingdome of Hierusalem stood the religion of those holy places did chiefly flourish among which the natiue House of the B. Virgin obtained not the meanest place For which cause Tancred a Norman by birth whose worthy vertue was very famous in the sacred war and being President of Galiley adorned the Church of Nazareth with many notable giftes which afterward not so much the wealth The Church of Nazareth is made the Metropolitan as the sanctitie of the place made the Metropolitan or principall Church as witnesseth VVilliam Archbishoppe of Tyrus who liued here those times Likewise Iames Victriacus Patriarch of Hierusalem who liued shortly after Guil. Tyr. lib. 9 doth also deliuer that he often went to Nazareth for deuotion sake and sundry times celebrated diuine seruice in the House where our B. Lady was saluted by the Angell the very Anniuersarie day of the Annunciation it selfe About which time began the two most notable Orders of sacred souldiers Guil. Tyr. lib. 12. 13. Paul Aemil. lib. 5. to wit the Templaries S. Iohns both chiefly ordained to entertaine and defend the Pilgrims that visited those holy places The fame wherof preuailed so much that the natiue house of our B. Lady of Nazareth was reuerenced of the Transalpines and them that dwelt beyond the seas as well as the Sepulcher at Hierusalem and at Bethleem the birth-place of our Lord. But this quietnes continued not long For Saladine King of Aegypt ouercōming and taking in battell Balduine the fift then King of Hierusalem forthwith waged warre on euery side and brought Hierusalem Paul Aemil. lib. 4. and other Citties and townes ther-about into his Dominion about 90. yeares after the Christians had recouered them Wherupon Conrade the Emperour Philip of France the second and Richard King of England Paul Aemil. lib. 6. passed ouer into Syria with great forces either to recouer Hierusalē or els to keepe the possession of Palestine But they returned home without their purpose circumuented and dissolued either with the subtilties of the Enemie or with the guile of the Countrey or els by discord among themselues After whom followed
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
places where the Sacred House did stand CHAP. IX AND at this day there are extant in all these places Hiero. Angel vndoubted proofes hereof For Nicolas Frangipane as we shewed before builte a magnificent Church about the new House which he caused to be made to resemble that of Nazareth set it in the very impressions where the other stood calling it the Church of our B. Lady of Tersact either for an anciēt memorie of the most sacred Chappell or els for that it was honoured with new miracles And in this Church not farre from the dore of the resembled house of Nazareth there is yet a worthy monument of Nicolas Frangipane who founding that Church in token o◠his great deuotion towardes the natiue House of the B. Virgin chose for him selfe and his posteritie a tombe neere to the impressions therof where also remaineth a very ancient marble table to witnesse so great a miracle to posteritie wherin is engrauen THIS IS THE PLACE VVHERE THE MOST SACRED HOVSE OF THE B. VIRGIN OF LORETO SOMETIME VVAS NOVV REVERENCED IN THE TERRITORIES OF RECANATI Which many of good credit haue reported assuring me that thē selues haue seene them And in that place where it rested when it came first into Picene as long as the wood stood and it stood vntill the 75. yeare of this age there appeared no obscure signes of the remouall of the sacred House and of the miracle For that parcell of ground on which it was seated was alwaies beautified with greene herbes and flowers when all the rest thereabout being ouer-growne with thicke bushes and thornes were sauage and rude Neither is the thing doubtfull For Hierome Angelita doth so deliuer it in his storie of the B. Virgin of Loreto which he dedicated to Pope Clement the 7. at that very time when this was a miracle to the beholders holders And with this part of ground were seene the impressions of the sacred walles imprinted in the earth representing holines and as it were some diuine thing In so much that I my selfe receiued the same from Raphael Riera a man of sincere credit and religion who was wont to tell that he often beheld the impressions of the sacred House and the beautie of this parcell of ground with great delight But the wood being lately cutt downe the land made arable this exceeding pleasantnes therof was so spoiled by the rude husbandmen with diging and sowing that it vtterly decayed Yet to preserue the religion of the place in those very impressions the said Riera raised little low walles both for a monument to posteritie that the sacred House of Loreto had in time past beene there as also for a defence against the abuses of cattle and simple men I my selfe saw and viewed this place when I committed these thinges to writing and obserued that the parcell of ground inclosed within those walles was euery way answerable both in length and breadth to the House of Loreto But now it is altogeather like to the other ground thereabout hauing lost the exceeding pleasantnes which it had before the rude husbādmen violated the sanctitie of the place yet truely it hath so lost the sweetnes that it retaineth the religion For at this day it is visited of many for deuotiō sake would also be visited of more but that the place is vnknowne to the common people In time past when it was more knowne either by reason of the exceeding pleasantnes or better commoditie of the wayes it was wont to be so reuerenced of the Pilgrimes that none almost would belieue that he had visited the Cell of the B. Virgin of Loreto that had not also reuerenced those first impressions of the same Cell Now the place is altogeather vnfrequented without passage neither hath it a knowne way vnto it so that if any will visit it he hath need of a skilfull guide It is distant from the towne of Loreto almost a mile and as much also from the sea not so much right on as by many turnings It is situated betweene the mont Vrsus and the Riuer Musion with almost the like distance as betweene Loreto and the sea and is commonly called Banderola peraduenture of a banner which in time past was sett vp in a certaine tree to demonstrate to Pilgrimes as they came and to seafaring men sayling along that coast that the most sacred Chappell was seated in that wood Certes the Italians do call a litle Banner Banderola By the sacred part of ground wherof I haue spoken there is a great well which continually yeldeth water easie to be drawne of you may belieue that this vnusuall and large well was made for the vse of some great multitude to wit for people which came to visit the sacred House But in the hill of the two Brothers the signes are more obscure for that hill was leuelled to fill vp the valleys to make them commodious for bulding and also built vpon when the towne of Loreto was built yet the place or rather a signe therof remaineth For without the walles of some priuate houses there is a certaine rude and a round peece of a hill like to a bound-marke which is graced with a little house being now the only signe of the seate that our B. Lady made choise of there and forsooke againe The house wherunto this boūdmarke is ioyned being situated not farre from the gate of the Bishops Pallace on the right hand as we enter is as it were the nauell or midst of the towne of Loreto And if that part of the Bishops Pallace which is already begunne be continued it will occupie almost all that space but then also as I suppose some monumēt of this place and miracle shall be left that the signe of so memorable a thing may not perish The speciall place and the admirable situation of the house of Loreto CHAP. X. IN the afore named places the B. Virgin mother of God chose her self a seate rather to rest in than to dwell that is to say of no long continuance because she determined euer from the beginning to make a setled seate in this place where at this present she remaineth and vnles some offence of the inhabitants or borderers do hinder it we hope an euerlasting Neither is it lawfull to doubte but as the mother of God from the beginning foresaw so could she haue auoided the indiligence of the Dalmatians in Sclauonie the crueltie of the theeues in the wood and the detestable hatred of the two brothers in the hill that was common vnto them For well knowing all this euen from the time that her sacred house departed first from Nazareth and forsooke her natiue soile she her selfe made speciall choise of this place to settle her a firme and a perpetuall seate And in very deed to giue credit to so vnusuall a miracle The cause of her manifolde remoouall and neuer heard of before the repetiō of the same miracle was needfull that the often
to the high way which seeming to concerne the dignitie and reputatiō of the Cittizens of Recanati they charged the gouernour of the Cittie that with a great companie of souldiers he should make the waies that went to the House of Loreto secure from theeues And as their counsaile was godly so had it good successe For the Gouernour him selfe most diligētly searching the most hidden lurking places of the wood put the malefactours to death in short space purged all that countrey with great commendation whose praise redounding to the Cittie that made him Gouernour from that time the Cittie of Recanati was surnamed the Most Iust Shortly after a new calamitie of those times and the neglect of sacred thinges S. Anto. Par. 3 Plat. in Clem. 5 The Pontificall sea is translated into France made the pietie of the people of Recanati very famous Whiles these things were done in Picene Clement the 5. the third Pope after Bonifacius for Benedict the 11. the successour of Bonifacius was Pope but a few moneths the 5. yeare of that age translated the Apostolicke Sea into France to the great detriment of Italy and almost of all the Christiā comon wealth which doubtles the casuall burning of the Laterā Church at that time did portend to the Cittie of Rome For whiles Clement the Roman Bishop established a new Sea at Lions the Lateran Church at Rome being the ancient seat of the Roman Bishops was set on fire whether by malice or by chāce it is not known Neither was the state of Italy much better vnder Iohn the 22. who succeeding Clement established the Pontificall Sea at Auinigon nor vnder Benedict the XII nor the rest of the Roman Bishoppes who afterward through Iohns exāple sate at the same place But the pietie and deuotion of the people of Recanati did flourish in building of a new Church to our B. Lady this most distressed time both of all the Christian and specially of their owne common wealth For of late that is to say the yeare of our Redemption 1322. the Cittie of Recanati was throwne downe by commandment of Iohn the XXII because it had reuolted from the Pope Ioan. Villar lib. 9. and the Cittizens compelled to prouide them dwelling in an other place But when they had made their agreement with the Pope and built their towne in that place where at this present it standeth their wealth was almost consumed either with the ouerthrow of their Cittie or els with bulding this new towne Yet notwithstanding their deuotion to our B. Lady their Patronesse prouoking thē they intēded to build a Church about the Chappell of Loreto For when the adioyned cloisters could neither containe the Pilgrimes their tablets nor votiue Images by reason that they and their donaries daily increased the Bishop of Macerata in whose Diocesse Recanati was with great approbation of the people of Recanati wēt about to build a Church about the most sacred Chappell For which purpose easily obtaining a great space of ground lying there about he pulled downe the Cloisters and at the common charge built a new Church from the foundation low indeed for the greatnes The sacred House is inuironed vvith a Church but wide and large inough wherunto he adioyned larger houses for the Priestes and ministers to dwell in and for the hospitalitie of the better sort of Pilgrimes there also shortly after erecting an hospitall for the reliefe of poore Pilgrimes VVhen Benedict the XII had adorned the new Church of Loreto with Indulgences it was frequented with greater deuotion CHAP. XIX WHEN the Church was finished a greater ornament was done vnto it For the Cittizens of Recanati making humble request to Benedict the 12. to grantremissiō of sinnes to all that rightly visited the Church of Loreto Hero Angel The Indulgences of Benedict the XII easily obtained it From which time so great feruour was enkindled in the hartes of the people of Recanati that most of thē would not be hindered almost by any busines to go euery day three miles to visit the House of Loreto for so far is it distant from their towne Moreouer euery morning assoone as the little children came out of their chābers their parents and nourses taught thēto turne them selues straight towardes the natiue House of the B. Virgin deuoutly to acknowledge and salute the mother of Loreto But old and sicke folkes being hindered with age or sicknes not able to go to the Church of Loreto as the custome was procured that the Image of our B. Lady of Loreto expressed in colours should be sett vp in the market place about which building a Chappell and an Altar they obtained of Benedict aforesaid a Breue ingrauen in golden letters wherin was granted remission of sinnes to them that prayed at the said Altar Hierome Angelita one of the Magistrates of the Cittie of Recanati who flourished about 70. yeares agone affirmeth that himselfe hath seene the same Breue defaced with rottennes and antiquitie Moreouer the Bishop of Macerata who at that time was also Bishop of Recanati thinking it good to deliuer to Posteritie the true relation of the House of Loreto tooke order that a litle booke might be published wherin was cōtained the admirable comming of the most sacred House into Italy her triple transmigration in the territories of Recanati and the chiefest wonders and miracles of our B. Lady of Loreto And because the people of Recanati had a speciall desire to imprint in the hartes of tender yeares great deuotion towardes the B. Virgin of Loreto they made a Decree that all schoolemaisters in teaching the first principles of learning should first inure childrens eares and mindes with such discourses and by little little should accustome tēder age to the reading of that little booke which ingraffed in them an exceeding deuotion pietie towards the natiue House of the B. Virgin The state of the House of Loreto whiles the Roman Bishops sate at Auinigon CHAP. XX. BVT what deepe impression the religion of the House of Loreto made in the harts of the Picentians at that time this one thing may shew that being nothing almost furthered by the Roman Bishops it flourished of it selfe For about that time as before hath bene said the Roman Sea passed into France And because the Pope was absent from the Cittie and from Italy it selfe the House of Loreto wanted many ornaments furderances which now it hath and then also had had but that this most sacred House ennobled with so many miracles and signes was so far frō the sight and intelligence of the Popes But euen in that state she wāted not their Pontificall ornaments albeit the Pōtificall Sea was the onely cause that she was not so much adorned as not neglected of the Roman Bishops whiles they sate in France For when Benedict the XII had graced the House of Loreto with a gift of Indulgences Clement the VI. his Successour being absent from the Cittie for he sate
intreat and importune Sabine her father to bring her to that house which shined with so many lightes for otherwise she could not describe the place where that most beautifull Virgin dwelt The father iested at his daughters request either thinking it to be a childish toy or els ignorant what place she described but not long after it happened that Sabine with his familie pilgrimaging to Loreto Alexandra straight acknowledged the place triumphed and exulted for ioy turning to her father Behold father said she this is the house whither that most beautifull Virgin cloathed in white brought me hither I desired to returne and this is the sight that I was so willing to enioy againe Wherat the father was amazed but pondering in his mind the exceeding deuotion of his daughter to the mother of God he perceyued that she was deare to the B. Virgin her selfe specially seeing the mother of God drew her vnto her from her tender yeares by a certaine vnwonted course For which cause he neither foreslowed to further the pietie of his daughter nor thought good for him to coÌ„ceale this wonder And Alexandra her selfe when she came to riper yeares tould it often to godlie men who afterward related it to others to me my selfe This miracle happened the 7. yeare of this age neither in vaine For Alexandra being trained in this Nouiceship liued alwayes a Virgin and lead a most holy life vntill she was 90. yeares of age euery yeare reuisiting the B. Virgin of Loreto And so great was the fame of her sanctimonie that she was made Abbesse of a Monasterie of Virgins in the towne Montabodo where she flourished not onely with vertues but also with miracles Neere to the Porch of the Church of Loreto the Popes Pallace is begunne by Iulius the II. and the caruing of the most sacred House is purposed CHAP. XIIII IVLIVS vsing all diligence to finish and adorne the House of Loreto was easily induced to greater expences For when the most sacred Chappell was fenced with the walles of the Church he thought good to ad a fortification to the towne it selfe against the assault and suddaine incursions of the enemie Hierome Roboreo Patron of Loreto of worthy memorie who vndertooke that worke lately departed this life hauing scarce laid the first fouÌ„dations therof Therfore Iulius the Pope prosecuting those worthy beginnings by meanes o the said Bramant whom we mentioned before began the Popes Pallace neere to the Church being a great and a magnificent worke cheefly designed for the intertainement of noble men The forme whereof is such That part of the Pallace where the entrance is into the square Court being right against the Church doth compasse it with two wings as it were with armes The foure angles haue as manie turrets All the whole worke doth beare the true forme of a square Castle hauing the Church for a fortresse And at this day with the continuall labour and expeÌ„ces of many yeares the one halfe therof is hardly finished Nether did Iulius Hier. Ang. Bern. Cyril whiles the Popes Pallace was in hand desist to adorne the Church it selfe A Quire for the singers made for the ornament of the place the excellent Organs of musicke set forth with statelie worke and gold two bells notable for bignes and forme and the foundations of the Bellfray were the worthy workes of Iulius the second When he had adorned the Church he prepared costly marble inough to garnish the most maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin on the outside which doubtles had bene the greatest of all his workes if speedie death had not euen then preuented his designments Almightie God reseruing that excellent praise to another And it is not to be esteemed the least which in this kind was the last of his mortall workes The gift of Antonie Perotto Peter Antonie Perotto Generall of the Siluestrines bearing great affection deuotion to our B. Lady of Loreto gaue the Abbey of S. Laurence neere to Loreto to wit in the territorie of Castro Ficardo with all the villages houses meadowes fieldes oliueries and woods therunto belonging to the Church of Loreto with the Popes approbation the 12. yeare of this age Wherupon a few dayes before his death in behalfe of the House of Loreto he confirmed the Donation of that Abbey with his Pontificall Breue and ordained Perotto him selfe Gouernour of Loreto supposing as it fell out that he who tooke contentment to increase the wealth of Loreto would also be carefull to preserue defend the same when it was increased The Queenes of Naples visite the House of Loreto CHAP. XV. POPE Leo the X. succeeding Iulius not only in the Apostolicke Chaire but also in his good purpose desired nothing more theÌ„ to yeeld to none in honouring the sacred House of Loreto And to manifest this his desire God gaue fitt occasioÌ„ in the verie beginning of his â—eigne For at that time the fame of the celebritie of the House of Loreto comming to Naples prouoked the two Ioanes of Aragon the elder and the yonger by the commonaltie called the Queenes of Naples because they were desceÌ„ded of the royall bloud to visit the Church which was glorified with so many miracles Who with a greate traine passing through good part of the Kingdome of Naples and comming by Abruzzo into Picene were receiued of the people with great ioy and preparation which way soeuer they went At which time the munificence of Leo was very notable for in all the townes of the Popes dominions through which they were to passe he coÌ„manded that these Queenes should be receiued with princely entertainment not so much for their owne honour as for the celebritie of the House of Loreto and granted full remission of sinnes not onely to the Queenes themselues but likewise to all that resorted to Loreto at their comming thither and rightly reuerenced the sacred House of our B. Lady the same day The 14. yeare of this age those Queenes came to visit the House of Loreto and in Picene there is extaÌ„t a famous monumeÌ„t therof For the report goeth that by this occasion in the territory of MoÌ„te-Sancto a towne betweene Loreto and Firmo the faire beaten way was paued which at this day is called the way of the Queenes being so called in time past of these Queenes in whose honour it was made Pope Leo the X. adorneth the Sacred House with ample Decrees CHAP. XVI AFTERVVARD Leo commanded that all the Indusgences Immunities The benefits of Leo the X. and benefittes of Iulius the second of the precedent Popes granted to the House of Loreto should be ratified with an expresse Breue which donne he carefullie added more to more aboundantly For he made the Church of Loreto a Collegiate Church giuing it the seale and other dignities of such Churches where he ordained 12. Chanons out of which number the Archpriest the keeper of the befoued House were to be chosen as many resident Priests called Mansioners and six
described required great peeces of the same he commanded that they should be fetched from Carrara which is a quarrey of white marble of most estimatiō in all Liguria not regarding the charges he tooke order that Ligurian marble should be layd into vessells to be brought about a long circuit for it must needes be conueyed by the Inferū and Superum seas almost all the coast of Italy as long as it is which at last being vnladen either at Ancona or els at the hauen of Recanati were carried to Loreto in cartes where they were polished with the antique worke of the Greekes and Romans by the rarest workmen of that age hired with great expences Meane while Leo bestowed no small benefit on the Church of Loreto The gift of Leo the X. to increase the maiestie and religion of the place For to make the representatiō of the Seate of Loreto more maiesticall God Laur. he made Peter Antonie Perotto the Gouernour when he celebrated Masse the more venerable not onely with Episcopall but also with other ornature and attire and grāted vnto him whē he said Masse to blesse the people with Episcopall authoritie and priuiledge Neither was Leo more carefull to adorne the Prelate of Loreto then the Altar with Pontificall gifts Foure siluer Candlesticks of a cubite and a halfe parcell guilt and ingrauē with curious worke about 50. pound weight a square Canopy were the worthy Donaries of Leo. About the same time the House of Loreto was honoured with other gifts of most noble persons Of Antonie Leiua others Antonie Leiua Generall of the Spanish Armie sent for a gift a vestment of damaske for the Preist curiously wrought with curled gold The Queene of Hungary her owne Image of siluer as if she were praying of XXX pound weight The Marquesse of Mantua vestmēts for the Priest Ministers sacrificing with solemnitie made of siluer and gold And others presented other Donaries who although they were noble personages yet they desired to haue their names concealed in their gi t s of which these be the cheifest A siluer statua of the B. Virgin with the Image of the most sweet child IESVS holding a globe in his hand of 8. pound weight To this was added an other of equall weight like fashion differing onely in this that Christ the little Childe doth sitt in his mothers lappe holding a peare in his right hand Besides there is an other Image of our B. Lady pourtraited in siluer of XI pound weight And also an other of like weight with the ensignes of the Imperiall Eagle that it may not obscurely appeare whence it was sent A Dalmatian Priest commeth to Loreto carrying vp with his hand his bowells pulled out of his bellie CHAP. XVIII MVCH about the same time a wonderfull thing more credible for the infinite power of God then for the strangenes of the fact made the House of Loreto much more illustrious in all the whole world A Dalmatian Priest a man of true simplicitie and of great deuotion to the B. Virgin of Loreto being takē by chāce by the Turkes and by all subtill meanes vrged to renounce his religion would in no wise admitt such wicked persuasions neither into eare nor mind but greatly disdained those importunate wretches and the more to offend them freely called on Christ and likewise on Marie which they stomaking demanding why he repeated those names so often he answered because they be fixed in my bowells Wherupō the Turkes threatned that they would pull forth his very bowells vnlesse in continent he would abiure Christ and Marie You are deceiued said he my bowells indeed you may take from me but Christ and Marie you cannot take from me Then in great rage they assaulted the Priest with a drawne sword who calling on the B. Virgin of Loreto made a vow vnto her that with the first oportunitie he would go to Loreto to visit her if life would giue him leaue Which speach did more enkindle the inraged Turkes for compassing him about and cutting and opening his breast they drew out his bowells tearing them from the vppermost partes and deliuered them to him selfe now halfe dead and by by as they supposed ready to fall downe scorning him in this manner Go make haste carrie thy bowells in which thou saist Marie of Loreto doth adhere vnto her as thou hast vowed And albeit it exceed all credit which we are now to deliuer yet neither the power nor the goodnes of Almightie God For the Priest who was readie to die God prolonging death and giuing him sufficient strength began to set forward and speedilie dispatching a iourney of many dayes came to Loreto carrying his bowells in his hand Which way soeuer he went great resort was made vnto him with desire to see and to know the matter Wherupon the Preist but cheifly to the ministers of the Church of Loreto shewing his open and emptie breast his bowells which he held vp with his hand declared breifly the whole matter leauing them all amazed with the admiration of so great a thing And when he had giuen harty thankes to the B. Virgin armed himselfe with the comfortable succours of Cōfession of the holy Eucharist in the sight and imbracements of the Mother of God as we may belieue he yielded vp his soule The very bowells of the Dalmatian Preist were hong vp hard by the most sacred Cell for strangers to behold and as soone as they were consumed with corruption counterfaite bowells made of wood and affiged in the same place remained there many yeares for a monument of that miracle But because the rude people which came to the Church of Loreto busied their mindes in such spectacles reuerenced the mother of God with lesse care thē they ought to haue donne they were at last remoued thence Yet in time of Pope Paul the III. by occasion of strengthening the pillers which support the thole the rafter on which they did hang being by chance cast downe it was decreed that a Preist holding vp his bowells with his hand and a short narration of the whole matter should be expressed in a table to preserue the memory of so great a miracle to posteritie and sett vp in the Church for all to beholde which at this day is there to be seene And the miracle it selfe is so witnessed that it is wickednes to doubt therof For many do yet liue who affirme that thē selues haue seene the bowells which were made of wood and haue heard many of the Inhabitants report that they had seene the very bowells of the Dalmatian Priest when they were fresh and in their naturall state Diuers assaultes of the Turkes are repelled from the House of Loreto by diuine power CHAP. XIX ABOVT the same time the B. Virgin shewed by vndoubted meanes how pleasing the House of Loreto was vnto her Annal. Laur. Rier Selime the Turkish Emperour and the Nephew of Mahomet comming
so affrighted them that at one instant they desisted from their premeditated theft But lest they might returne againe to execute their intended purpose a new miracle happened to them before this astonishment was gone For when much of the day as it is said was spent a cloud fell suddainly from heauen which by little and little thickening about the Church tooke away the sight therof when notwithstanding all the places therabout were bright with the sunne-shine which once being cast before the souldiers eyes made their mindes immooucable and filled them with so great dread that they fell downe on their knees and turning presumption into pietie intended to go to Loreto to pacifie the wrath of God and his B. mother Whither assoone as they came all and chiefly the Captaines of the Companies with great deuotion went into the sacred House of Loreto and kneeling downe besought pardon of their intended wickednes Besides they honoured the B. Virgin with giftes whome they purposed to haue robbed so that they beganne their iourney with a mad attempt but concluded it with a happie ending The Duke of Vrbine being exceeding glad at the vnexpected issue of their wickednes gaue hartie thankes to God the B. Virgin for the auerted sacriledge and forth with in the first entrance of the most maiesticall Cell hūg vp his armour in memorie of so great a miracle and vowed to with-draw his forces out of the territorie of Picene Neither did he faile therin For in continent the terrible armie was with drawne wherby both the House of Loreto and the Countrey of Picene were deliuered from feare of ransacking and spoiling by a worthie miracle The towne of Loreto is walled about by Pope Leo the X. and the worthy worke of the caruing is hastened on CHAP. XXI THE rumour of the manifold dangers of Loreto and of the heauenly protection of the B. Virgin excited Pope Leo to prouide that hereafter the like dangers might be withstood resisted by the endeuours of man especially because thē enterprize of the Popes Pallace intended for a fortification of the sacred House was so great a worke that the continuall labour of many yeares could hardly finish it Therfore misliking a thing of so long expectation and the better to resist the suddaine incurfiōs of the enemies he cōpassed Loreto about with ditches rampiers bulwarks and walls the XX yeare of this age and planted there many brazen peeces for defence of the towne and to keepe of the enemie So the Church of Loreto being compassed about with the fortifications of the towne by surderance of a little hill euen a far of hath the true forme of a fortified Castle The fame wherof did not onely allure Pilgrims to visit it but also the borderers to inhabit it and quailed the Barbarians others from attempting any mischeife hereafter against it In this meane season Cardinall Roboreo Patron of Loreto departing this life Cardinall Bibiana ◠made Patron of Loreto Bernard Cardinall Bibiana was made Patron of Loreto whose substitute the Pope appointed Iulianus Rodulphus the Prior of Capua who at Leo his command because lodging for the Nobles was already prepared forthwith bulltan Hospitall for the poore Pilgrims And when the fortifications of Loreto were finished the Pope caused a bell of huge bignes to be cast to witt of twēty thousad pound weight and called it Loreto by the name of the towne And being allwayes very mindfull of the worthy ornament which he endeauoured to leaue about the most sacred Chappell he was most carefull to solicite Sansouino and the rest of the Artificers with letters rewards and promises to finish so famous a worke whiles he liued The letter which Leo sent to Sansouino concerning that matter is yet extant The third restimony of Leo X. the beginning wherof because it maketh to the worthy praise of the House of Loreto we thought good to relate in this place Thus it is For the immensiue and infinite benefits bestowed on mankinde and cheisly on vs our selfe by the immaculate Mother of the high God our Redeemer we deuoutly and piously belieue that the most sacred Church of Loreto venerable throughout the whole world was the little Cell of the B. Virgin whiles she carried the burden of our flesh and the place of the message of the Angelicall salutation and of her conceiuing of the diuine issue which she was to bring into this worlde and in which the B. Virgin doth dayly shew her selse a very bountisull giuer of graces speedily condescending to the vowes of all saith sull people and the rest that followeth the summe wherof is this The most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin is worthy indeed to be had in great honour therfore with speed and might we must endeauour to dispatch her ornament with all expedition Notwithstanding whiles Leo liued the finishing of that worke could not be accomplished for truly the kinde of the embosment and the aboundance of those most excellēt statuaes required more then one Popes reigne After Leo Adrian the VI. was chosen a man otherwise godly and learned but either the troubles of the time or else the shortnes of his reigne for it was scarce a yeare was the cause that he lest almost no signe of his deuotion towards the House of Loreto specially because he was wholly imployed in building of a sūptuous a statelie Church at Rome for the Flemings of which nation he was dedicated to our B. Ladie surnamed Dell ' Anima But how propense his good will towards the House of Loreto was likely to haue beene if life had permitted him his letters written to the Gouernour of Loreto do plainly shew and the benefits immunities and Indulgences of the precedent Popes which he confirmed And although I find but few particulars of the donaries which were giuen to Loreto at this time because they were negligently recorded yet they were not altogeather wanting For there is extant a memoriall of Donaries albeit the names of them that gaue them are not set downe because as I belieue they them selues would haue them suppressed that they might be more gratefull to God and his B. Mother Notwithstanding I find the particular monuments of some Iohn Baptista Caraffa of Naples Iohn Caponaccia of Padua Philip Barbo of Venice Laurence an Hungarian Duke of Vilaco and Vrsino Vrsinio a Roman dedicated euery one his owne siluer Image to our B. Ladie of Loreto and the Marquesse of Mantua brought worthie ornaments of gold and siluer for the Priest and ministers celebrating with solēnitie Pope Clement the seauenth doth adorne the House of Loreto with Decrees and continueth the adorning of the most sacred Cell CHAP. XXII AFTER Adrian Clemēt the VII Cosin-german to Leo the X. was created Pope whose Pope dome being disquieted with domestical forraine warres not only the ransacking of the Cittie of Rome but also his deuotion towardes the House of Loreto made very famous For in the beginning of his raigne he esteemed
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
of infinite labour the profit nothing answerable vnto the labour he is reported to haue said VVe must desâ—st from a vaine worke and imploy our selues in more profitable and certainer commodities of the House of Loreto which may correspond to the expectation of men So from leuelling the hill he bent his care and industrie to build the Popes Pallace appointed for the intertaynment of Noble men Whereupon in short time great part thereof was finished polished and furnished so magnificently that in the same Kings and Popes themselues might lodge most honourablie Of three partes therof one was then finished which being seated on the right hand of the Church is directly extended from the setting of the sunne which in length is an hundred Cubits in breadth foure and twentie and fiue and twentie in height besides the greate ground-works added on the North side to make the building equall And this part of the Pallace hath a double Porch of great State which doth consist of 15. Arches and almost as manie great Columnes of large compasse as well aboue as below Truly a notable worke and very excellent both for sight and vse The House of Loreto is adorned with Chappels and Heauenlie Signes CHAP. XI THIS part of the building of Loreto was not whoâ—â—e finished by the Pope when principall Men began to adorne the Chappell 's of the Church The chiefest in that worke was Rodulphus Pius the Cardinall of Carpa who as we said before succeeded Card Contareno in the Patronship of the House of Loreto and being a very godly vertuous man he adorned the Chappell which was designed to keepe and Minister the most holie bodie of Christ The Chappell of the Prince of Bisinia Of the Archb. of Altouico Of the Card. of Trent Of the Card. of Augusta with excellent pictures of marble worke guilt whose example stirred other great Men to imitate that ornament of piety The Prince of Bisinia adorned the Chappell of S. Anne the Bishop of Alâ—o-Vico the Chappell of the B. Virgin visiting S. Elizabeth the Cardinall of Trent the Chappell of the Rosarie the Cardinal of Augusta the Chappell of S. Iohn Baptist some with pictures and others with pictures and implastered workes Of the Duke of Vrbine But of all in this kinde the munificence of the Duke of Vrbine did far excell who adorned his Chappel not onely with white marble carued with maruailous art but also with most beautifull pictures made by Bacorio and Zuchero two notable Painters Whiles the Church was adorned of mortall men with striuing emulation it altogeather wanted not immortall ornaments For at that time I find that the olde wonder of the flames of Loreto was renewed after a new manner In the night time a fierie Pillar as it were shyning with great brightnes was seene to stand ouer the Church of Loreto Annal. Laur. Rier from whence by litle and litle it went towards Macerata a famous towne of Picene 14. miles from Loreto at last rested ouer the Church of S. Marie surnamed of the Virgins in the Suburbes of Macerata which wonder the FraÌ„ciscan Capuchines whose Monastery was in the Suburbes very carefully and often obseruing after the morning office of diuine seruice wheÌ„ before day as their manner was they retired themselues into the next wood to serue God they gaue it out that to their thinking our B. Ladie did descend from heauen in likenes of a heauenly flame vpon her Natiue House and from thence went vnto another Church which was dedicated to her name by that meanes to make it knowne to mortall meÌ„ that that Church was also deare vnto her And the woÌ„derfull multitude of miracles which shortly after were wrought in the same place seeme most manifest proofes of the heaueÌ„ly signe which did illustrate that yeare which was memorable for the departure of Paul the third who publishing the celebritie of the Iubiley against the 50. yeare put of mortalitie and passed to an immortall life leauing the care and the praise of the Iubiley to his Successour Pope Iulius the III. instituteth a Colledg of the Society of IESVS at Loreto CHAP. XII IVLIVS the third according to the vse of former Popes with his authoritie coÌ„firmed the Indulgences Immunities Annal. Laur. Rier and Benefits of the House of Loreto And calling to mind that deuine saying The benefits of Iulius the 3. Holynes becoÌ„meth thy House O Lord by lawes which he caused to be set downe by the Cardinal of Carpa excited the Clergie and People of Loreto to greater perfection of life Then from the discipline of the Inhabitants turning his care to the ornature of the place it self he also caused the sacred furniture to be well increased the marble staires in the Church Porch to be laid the entrie to be paued with brick for seemlinesse of the place diuers priuate houses to be built ouer against the Porch whereof we haue spoken either to grace the street or els for benifitt of the Inhabitantes At last the vppermost roomes next to the Bishops lodging before rude inhabitable were well fitted to dwell in assigned to the Societie of Iesus For the Pope well knowing that the amendment of corrupt manners by meane of a well ordered Confession is the greatest fruite of holy Pilgrimage decreed to prouide fit Penitentiaries for the Church of Loreto most famous with the Pilgrimages of all Nations And albeit there wanted not holie godlie Priests yet their scarcitie or vnskillfulnes in strang languages made lesse profit than indeed was requisite Therefore the Pope considering all thinges through the exhortatioÌ„ of the Cardinall of Carpa thought it for the best to admit the Fathers of the Societie of Iesus to help the Priests of Loreto that there might be some who with their knowledge of languages might inuite the Pilgrims to the expiation oâ— their sinnes and might also imploy continuall and diligent labour in hearing the Confessions of strangers Twelue Fathers were chosen for that purpose for whose mayntenaÌ„ce allowance sufficient was made out of the reuenewes of the House of Loreto Their dwelling was in the vppermost part of the buildings which at that time were voide assigned them the 54. yeare of this age This was the beginning of the Colledge of the Societie of Iesus at Loreto small truly but to no small good of the Inhabitants and Pilgrims For the greatest care of the Fathers was to purge the soules of the Pilgrimes them that dwelt beyond the Alpes by confession to instruct all such rude people as were ignorant of the mysteries of Christian beliefe and to excite euery one to the zeale of a godly and Christianlike life And how fruitfull and profitable their labour was both to the Inhabitants and strangers is more fitting to leaue it for others to coniecture than for me to write But that this College of the Fathers was not onelie pleasing to mortall men but euen to our B. Ladie her self the daylie increase and
small store of siluer a bow and an excellent quiuer of arrowes not so gratefull and acceptable for value as because the gifts were rare and the giuer himselfe to be admired At that time Gaspar Doctus a Venetian was Gouernour of Loreto who putting the other Donaries on the Altar coÌ„manded that the bow and the quiuer of arrowes should be set vp ouer the doore of the most Sacred Cell for a monument of the miracle to posteritie Also the partie of whome I haue spoken being set at libertie by the Bassa brought with him the hand-writing of his Patrone for a testimonie of the miracle which Gaspar translating out of Arabian into the vulgar tongue would haue preserued for an euerlasting memoriall therof and the same turned into latin is this That which the great and mercifull Lord of the world would haue to happen vnto vs. A certaine thing chauncing to me my self from aboue I Corcutte the Bassa not to faile in my dutie and to haue some monument of so greate a wonder to be extant to posteritie will relate the whole matter in order A great impostume growing in our breast and certaine death being at hand and also despayring of health by means of Physitians my slaue came vnto me and with great confidence vttered these wordes vnto me If you will promise me libertie I will pray to the Mother of my God to restore you your former health Out of hand sending for the notarie I secured him libertie if he performed his promise Whereuppon my slaue kneeling downe presently on the ground and making certaine signes on himselse with his hand requested me to say after him repeating these words before me I implore the helpe of our B. Ladie of Loreto Saying after through the goodnes of God I recouered For which cause manumitting my slaue I gaue him this testimonie with votiue gifts for a monument of my Reuerence and gratefull mind towards B. Marie the mother of God the Almightie who hath made vs whole The House of Loreto is enriched with the Donaries of Noble men CHAP. XIX THE House of Loreto was not more graced with miracles thaÌ„ with gifts in time of Iulius the third The Cardinall of Augusta brought to the B. Virgin of Loreto for a gift The gift of the Card. of Augusta and of many others a vestment of gold of curious worke a neck-lace of a 150. orient pearles notablie graced with golden stones of equall distance and a coyne of gold haÌ„ging beautified with gemmes and precious stones Cardinall Cesius siluer ornature for the Altar The Cardinall of Carpa costlie furniture of cloth of gold for the Bishop celebrating diuine seruice with solemnitie and an other of cloth of siluer wrought with curled gold Cardinall Medices who afterward was created Pope by the name of Pius the 4. a suite for the Altar of cloth of gold Bernardine San-Seuerino Prince of Bisinia his owne Image of siluer to the brest of no small weight and ornature of crimson veluet for the Priest the Altar Hercules Duke of Ferrara goodly ornature of damaske wrought with great flowres of golde for the Altar Priest and Ministers celebrating diuine seruice with solemnitie Vidobaldus Duke of Vrbine a suite for the Altar and the Priest of cloth of gold The Duke of Grauine ornature for the Priest of the same stuffe The Viceroy of Naples golden vestments imbrodered for the Priest and ministers to vse in time of solemne seruice The Marques of Mantua vestments of siluer for the same to vse in like solemnitie Portia Cesia a golden Cope The Countesse of Palena in Abruzzo a neck-lace of golde and precious stones Constantia Leiua a Spaniard a Crownet of gold of one pound weight There was also a worthie gift sent out of Germanie from Ferdinand king of the Romanes that is to say a siluer Image of the B. Virgin of a foote a half of 31. pound weight at whose feete doth lye prostrate Anne the Queene of Bohemia pourtured in siluer which hath a double inscription in the base The one before FERDINAND THE MIGHTIE AND POTENT KING OF THE ROMANES OF HVNGARIE AND BOHEMIA ARCHDVKE OF AVSTRIA c. SENT THIS SILVER IMAGE TO BE OFFERED TO THE B. VIRGIN OF LORETO THE YEARE M. D. LII IN THE MONETH OF MAY. The other behinde FERDINAND KING OF THE ROMANES OF HVNGARIE AND BOHEMIA ARCHDVKE OF AVSTRIA c. IN MEMORIE OF ANNE HIS BELOVED VVIFE DEDICATED AND CONSECRATED THIS HER IMAGE OF SILVER TO THE B. VIRGIN OF LORETO IN PERFORMANCE OF A VOVV VVHICH VVAS MADE FOR HER RECOVERIE Marcellus Ceruinus the Cardinall knoweth by reuelation in the sacred Chappell that he should be Pope CHAP. XX. IN this meane while Marcellus Ceruinus the Cardinall a man famous for learning and sanctitie had made his dwelling in a towne neere to the House of Loreto Annal. Laur. Rier The pietâ—e and deuotion of Card. Cerninus called Monte-fano which he accompted his natiue soile choosing indeed a very conuenient place to visit the natiue Cell of the B. Virgin from whence he came to Loreto with great zeale and deuotion to say masse in the most Maiesticall Chappell of the whole worlde After the decease of Iulius the third there happeneda certaine thing in sight and euent most meruailous to Marcellus Ceruinus the Cardinall celebrating diuine seruice at Loreto as he was accustomed A very white and a beautifull doue flying peaceably vp and downe ouer his head in the presence of many people sometimes rested on the haÌ„ds of the Sacrificant sometimes on the Missal it self which filled them that were present with great admiratioÌ„ woÌ„der The Priest who as the vse is assisted the Card. in tyme of the dreadfull Sacrifice thinking it to be some ordinary doue come thither by chaÌ„ce assaied to driue her away But the Cardinall well remembring that here to sore in former ages sometimes Bishops had beene designed from aboue by the manifestation and shewing of a white doue forbad him to disquiet her Whereuppon he permitted the heauenly doue to rest till the Sacrifice being ended she flew away of her owne accorde Shortly after a heauenly vision confirmed the truth hereof vnto him For Marcellus being called to Rome by a messenger of the Popes death would not commit himself to his iourney and to the election of the new Pope vntill he had saluted the B. Virgin of Loreto according to his custom And the sacred day of the B. Virgins Annunciation being at hand did more inuite his godly minde Therfore coÌ„ming to Loreto the day before and shutting out the rude people on the Festiuall day he began to say masse with great attention in the most Maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin And in time of the dreadfull Sacrifice a litle after the beginning of the Canon remembring the Church depriued of her Pastour and recommending her most effectually to God and the B. Virgin our B. Lady accompanied with many heauenly spirits The reuelation vvhich vvas shevved to
Card Ceruinus in the House of Loreto appeared vnto him in celestiall brightnes as he was earnest in prayer and replenishing his soule with diuine light sweetnes tolde him he should be Pope forthwith vanishing out of the sight of his astonished minde So admirable so strāge a thing happening to Marcellus on the suddaine stroke him into such a feare that trembling at the Altar he could scarce stād on his feete Whereuppon the Priest who assisted him in time of the dreadfull Sacrifice perceiued that something was reuealed to the Cardinall from aboue specially because his face seemed to shine with a certaine vnwonted brightnes and also all his body to be inuironed with a new light which with great familiarity he reported to many others also to Raphael Riera who set it downe in writing Yea and the Card. himself being importuned with the intreaty of his friends who were present at that heauenly vision tolde the whole matter as it happened adding withall that so great an office as that of the high Bishop was far beyond his desert and therefore peraduenture Almighty God would prouide an other Vicar for himself But if it were the will of God to haue such a Vicar on earth truly the first thing that he would do should be to preserue the Christian Common-Wealth in good state to propagate the reuerence of the House of Loreto far and neere Whereuppon returning to Monte-Fano and sending for the notarie he commāded to be set downe in publicke record what he was determined to do in honour of our B. Ladie of Loreto to the end the publicke records might binde him to performe his promise to the Mother of God that the same if perchāce death preuented him as it happened might witnes his propensiue good will towards her The records of Marcellus Ceruinus the Cardinall are yet extant in the towne which I haue mentioned whereby it doth well appeare that he purposed with himself to increase the number of the Chanons of the Singers of the Ministers and also the Priests of the Societie of Iesus that the sacred House might be reuerēced with greater deuotion and zeale of the Pilgrims which came to visit it Moreouer he purposed to inlarge the circuit of Loreto and to raise walls and fortresses about it to build a new towne and a new Cittie to grace it with a Bishops Sea and with absolute and mixt gouernment and also to make eight bordering Townes tributary vnto it And to build this Cittie he inuented this easie and expedite way that is to say to inuite the poorest families of all the Popes dominions to inhabite the new Towne partly with hope of reward partly also with the deuotion of our B. Lady of Loreto to diuide in common to the new Inhabitants the next wood purchased with the Common treasure that they might cut downe the trees destroy the copses for their greater commodity and better tilling of their land So in short time the new Citty would be well prouided of fruite wine and oile inough neither would Merchants allured with hope of gaine faile to be there by reason that great resort would be vnto the place whereby in time exceeding honour and reuerence would be donne to the B. Virgin of Loreto But it seemed otherwise to God whose iudgements are inscrutable for it was his holy will that he should rather set down in writing his worthy purposes towards the House of Loreto than performe thē indeed Yet assoone as Marcellus came to Rome that was easily effected which Almighty God would haue to come to passe to wit that he should be created Pope wher by the promise of the B. Virgin was performed but the Popes could not be because within xxij daies hauing scarce begun his Popedome he departed this life A Bishop more memorable for his worthy determinations than his deedes for diuers Popes imitating his godly purpose adorned the Church the sacred House of Ioreto with many goodly fortifications and gifts The Colledge of the Iesuits is enlarged by Pope Paul the IV. also the celebrity and wealth of Loreto is increased CHAP. XXI PAVL the fourth was of the number of them who succeding Marcellus following his good determinations did not onely beginne to reforme the decayed discipline and manners of the Church but also firmely purposed to amplifie the state of the House of Loreto Therfore in the beginning of his Popedome he confirmed the ancient benefits of other Popes with a new Breue diligētly forewarded the building increased the number of the Ministers and finally omitted nothing which he thought might pertaine to increase the religion of the place it selfe But this was his chiefest care grounded on the determinatiōs of Marcellus to inlarge the Colledge of the Society of Iesus For although those Fathers which were then at Loreto bestowed greater labour on the Pilgrimes then was conuenient for so small a number yet so few were not able to deale with such a multitude of strangers as dayly increased specially when out of remote Contreys many of different language resorted more and more vnto it whereof diuers could not be confessed for want of Priests to vnderstand them The Fathers of the Society were as sorrowfull as themselues that they should returne home againe frustrated of their hope and vow which prouoked the Cardinall of Carpa to thinke how he might increase the number of those Fathers For being very glad that the Colledge which he had procured to be planted in the soile of Loreto albeit yet slender and new partly brought forth and partly made shew of much spirituall fruite he healt earnestly with the Pope to inlarge it supposing that that would happen which came to passe to witt that it would bring forth a most fruitfull and plentifull haruest when the fruites themselues were fullie increased ripe Wherefore the 55 yeare of this age by the Popes approbation and allowance he effected that thirty lacking two should be added to the former number that fortie of the Society of IESVS might be mayntained at Loreto And the Society deceiued not the hope of the Cardinall nor of the Pope For their Colledge being thus increased with Priests expert in forraine tongues was a great increase to the deuotion of Pilgrims and no small benefit to the House of Loreto it self Because from that time the Pilgrims of most Nations fynding Priests of their owne Contrey with whome they might freely deale without an interpreter by their helpe returned home againe not only purged of their sinnes but also instructed with Christian institutions and precepts Likewise the Religion and wealth of the House of Loreto increased in such aboundāt manner that it doth well appeare the accesse of strangers and the multitude of Donaries to be far greater than euer was wōt For the multitude of Pilgrims increased so much that euerie way people resorted to Loreto in great troupes So that oftentimes ten thousand now and then twentie and sometimes also more then thirtie
Saxatellus made a goodly Barke to fetch great peeces of stone out of Dalmatia for the building of Loreto procured great store therof to be brought thither with which the notable forefront of the Church of Loreto began to be couered with antique worke by Iohn Baccalino a famous Architect of those dayes The Hospitality and Almes of the House of Loreto CHAP. XV. SAXATELLVS vsing all diligence to adorne the Church The Hospitality of the House of Loreto the towne and the waies of Loreto omitted not the offices of charity and Christian benignity For first he dayly relicued an hundred then two hundred and sometimes also more then three hundred poore Pilgrims intertaining them with good Hospitality And because the old Hospitall was assigned for men and the multitude also of women dayly increased he built furnished a new Hospitall for thē The honester sort of poore Pilgrims whome shāfastnes did let to aske almes openly he relieued by secret means Principall mē he intertained curteously very boūtifully that you might thinke the B. Virgin of Loreto was the receiuer of all Nations and almost of all sortes of people Happily at no time before did Allmighty God more concurre in helping the benignity of men for there was such aboundance of almes and votiue money that they did not only suffice so many so great offices of piety and Christian benignity but also far exceeded them Whereby we see that wealth bestowed for Gods cause by his goodnes doth returne more aboundantly Therfore Saxatellus the onely Steward wholy bent to increase the State of Loreto with the money which auaunced that the fountaine of this benignity might be perpetual purchased goodly and fruitfull groundes Of the Earle Bonarello in the Territory of Recanati he bought the Mount-Vrsus for ten thousand Crownes for as much more Tuscion in Osimo and also other lands in Castro-Ficardo a notable peece of ground called Aqua-viua for two thousand and two hundred Crownes and the vineyards for three thousand And lest the meadowes wooddy groundes should be voide and vnoccupied he filled them with heards of Oxen Mares Buflers flocks of sheep goates other cattell Out of which aswell other commodities as an yearely reuenew of almost three thousand crownes came to the House of Loreto to be no small furderance to her bounty and the seruice of Almighty God And most of these things were purchased with the money which auaunced whiles Pius V. was Bishop For truly that which was bountifully giuen vnto the poore was restored with so great increase that you would thinke God striued with men in liberality Moreouer as much as lay in him Pius the Vicar of God The Decree of Pius V. did also furder this prouidence of Allmighty God For neither the loue nor the intreaty of any could euer mooue him to turne any thing falling to the profit of the House of Loreto into other workes of piety so resolute was he that vowes made to our B. Lady should be performed where they that made them receiued benefit by them specially seeing that their votiue gifts could no where be better imploied then in the ornaments Hosspitality of the House of Loreto it self The Donaries of Pius V. and of other Princes CHAP. XVI AND Pius the Popereceiued no small grace and reward of his merit towards our B. Lady of Loreto Annal. Laur. Rier For bewailing Michaell Bonello the Cardinall of Alexandria The vovv gift of Pius V. of others his sisters sonne brought to the point of death with a grieuous and dangerous sicknes he made a Vow to the B. Virgin of Loreto in his behalf Neither in vaine For presently the praier of the godly Pope was heard health was restored to the Cardinall ready to die and Pius obtayning this vow and fauour of our B. Lady was correspondent to the speedines of the heauenly benefit with like speede of deuotion For which cause as soone as Michaell was able to performe that iourney by reason of his weaknes he sent him to the B. Virgin of Loreto with a votiue gift that he himself might witnes his miraculous recouery The Donary was an excellēt suite of siluer cloth of tissue for the Altar the Priest the worthier for that it was sent for the health of a worthy Cardinall and from Pius V. the Pope Neither at any time heretofore in so few yeares did the rest of the Cardinalls send more gifts to the sacred House of Loreto The Cardinall of Mantua presented ornature for the Altar of cloth of gold The Cardinall of S. George a Vestment for the Priest of the same stuffe Cardinall Montino a suite for the Altar of cloth of gold double curled Cardinall Riario ornature for the Altar and the Priest of Damaske with an Image of Christ and siluer Candlestickes a Cubit long of very costly worke Cardinall Mont-Alto who afterward was Pope by the name of Xystus V. double ornature for the Altar and single for the Priest and Ministers celebrating with solemnity of Damaske beautified and finely flourished with great golden flowers Cardinall Sittico ab-Altempts a Vestment for the Priest wrought with gold and siluer like net-worke imbrodered Cardinall Perusino furniture for the Priest well imbrodered another allmost like to this of the same stuffe and worke from Cardinall Paceco Finally Cardinall Vinerio gaue a worthy Cope and golden Vestments for the Priest and Ministers celebrating diuine seruice with solemnity garnished with great flowers curled gold and imbroderie Neither wanted there gifts frō Citties Townes The people of Camerino brought to the B. Virgin of Loreto for a gift a Cope of cloth of gold The people of Fabriano a siluer Chalice notable for bignes and weight The people of Viterbo ornature for the Altar made of gold siluer With these also came other Donaries from worthy but from vnknowne persons whose memory hath perished I know not by what mischance There is a Statua almost a Cubit long of solid gold representing a naked Child wrought with meruailous art the giuer whereof and the cause is not expressed Diuers deliuer it in diuers manners The more cōmon report is that it was a votiue gift of the Prince Asculano one of the Peeres of the kingdōe of Naples who hauing a sonne to succeed in the State of his Ancestors was deformed with contraction of hands and feete But his parents inuocating the B. Virgin of Loreto and making a vow for the recouery of their Child the vse of his feeble members was restored vnto him by miracle and truely the shape fashion of the Statua it self doth fauour this report Besides there are other such like gifts whereof there is no memory in the monuments of Record for ought that I know For the booke of the Donaries of this time comprehending almost ten yeares either perished or els came not to my hands Therefore of those gifts which were giuen in the end of Pius V. and in the beginning of Gregory the xiij I can
by the Pope himself that he might accompany her to the most desired House of the B. Virgin Vnder the walls of Recanati the godly woman beholding the House of Loreto a far of forthwith came out of her Coach and kneeling downe reuerently saluted the Mother of God from whence performing the rest of that iourney on foote all her traine followed the example of their Lady who came into Loreto in a white and a plaine garment shewing therby the great purity of her mind Her modesty was also very singular For being brought into the most sacred House of the B. Virgin by two Bishops without regard of Cushins or Tapestry she fell downe on her knees on the bare floore deuoutly worshipped the King and the Queene of heauen in time past the Inhabitants but now the Gouernours of that House with flowing teares besought pardon for herself and her huâ—band and by praier intreated peaceable wedlocke and issue-male Soone after deuoutly receiuing the sacred Mysteries she spent all the night following in praier with humble supplication before the B. Virgin doing also the like the two daies and nights that followed such strength did her feruent deuotion and piety bring vnto her And at her departure The vvorthy gifts or the great Duchesse of Tuscany she hung vp two harts of gold in golden chaines to be a monument that she was either most deare to her and her husband or els that the B. Virgin the author of concord would make her nusbands hart such a one vnto her as she knew hers to be vnto him And not coteÌ„ting herself with these Donaries she departed fully determined to honour the B. Virgin of Loreto with some yearly gift which as loÌ„g as she liued she did more carefully theÌ„ she purposed A worthy Image of siluer of Christ Crucified with a great Crosse of Ebony foure curious Candlestickes of siluer of a cubite and a half ornaments for the Bishop Priest Ministers and the Altar made of gold and siluer double curled and imbrodered a golden garment for the B. Virgin made with meruailous art also other furniture for the Altar and the holy Chalices beautified with imbrodery iewells gold and siluer were the worthiest gifts of Ioane de Austria whose praier and Donaries obtained her desire For soone after this Pilgrimage to Loreto she had issue-male by her husbaÌ„d a patterne of his Mothers piety borne in expectance of his Fathers and almost of a Kingly State who a while suruiuing his Mother erected the mindes of his people to the hope of vndoubted felicity But afterward the Mother dying and by the secret iudgment of God the yong child also following his Mother filled Tuscany with sorrow and lamentation And Ioane de Austria did not onely adorne the House of Loreto with her act but also with her example For not long after Margaret de Austria that out of the same family examples may be shewed not only of vertue in men but also of piety in women the daughter of Charles the V. and wife of Octauius Farnesius Duke of Parma came to Loreto with a great company of Noble meÌ„ where rightly receauing the mysteries of Confession and the most holy Eucharist for the space of three daies she was allwaies present in the Church at diuine seruice and in the most Maiesticall Chappell it self praied to God his B. Mother not so long The gift of Margaret de Austria as deuoutly and last of all putting a great quantity of gold into the arke honoured the B. Virgin with gifts worthy such a woman The Duchesse of Loraine being brought to Loreto sicke of the Palsey is cured by Miracle CHAP. XXVI THIS praise was not proper to the women of Austria and Italy Annal. Laur. Rier Victo Brigant Christerne or Christine the daughter of the King of Denmarke and of the Emperours sister Charles the V. being Duchesse of Loraine and a woman of manlike valour exceeding piety great age and much hindered with age and the palsey determined to come to Loreto to performe her vow who at the intreaty of her friends would neuer giue consent that the Pope himself should exchange that vow into other workes of piety so feruent was her desire to see the B. Virgin of Loreto Therefore assoone as she and her most Princely traine came into Italy but specially into Picene she made hast to the place whether she was bound well hoping to recouer perfect health by the help of our B. Lady Wheruppon in the very entrance of the most sacred House her soule was not only replenished with heauenly ioy but also her body restored to perfect health And perceyuing that the vse and strength of those members wherin she was molested was restored vnto her by miracle first beyond her custome she stood on her feet by her self alone to make triall of her strength then seeing the thing succeeded well without any help at all she went ioyfully about the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin all her familiar friends admiring the miracle and greatly extolling the worthy benefit of God and his B. Mother But Christine whome that thing did most concerne entring againe into the most Maiesticall Chappell with flowing teares of ioy fell downe before the Queene of heauen made no end of praising the diuine benefit no end of thanksgiuing and dedicated her self and all hers to God and his B. Mother And afterward that a monumeÌ„t of so great a benefit might euer remaine at Loreto in sight of the B. Virgin she hung vp in a chaine of gold a great hart crowned with solid gold which for that purpose she brought with her from home which donne she layd out Princely gifts a Crownet of vnions and orient pearles a Carkanet of precious stones siluer vestments of very curious damaske-worke for the Altar Priest and Ministers sacrificing with solemnity and last of all she increased these Princely gifts with a great summe of money Neither did she depart thence vnrewarded For Pope Gregory the xiij sent vnto her from the Citty a most ample Iubiley which she with her whole traine in which were almost fiue huÌ„dred people rightly receiued But the sorrowful message of the death of Sebastian King of Portugall her sisters sonne did not a little trouble her hart being made most ioyfull with these heauenly gifts yet in so great and suddaine a griefe the worthy vertue of the couragious and godly woman was not a little manifested because from mourning for the King her Cousin she imployed her self to help his soule and celebrated his funeralls with the greatest pompe that might be but so that in the House of Loreto it self she procured very many masses to be said for him And finally being inflamed with ChristiaÌ„ charity she her self did twice visit the hospitall of Loreto bestowing on euery sicke body two Crownes in golde with no lesse praise of humanity then liberality Two throwne very dangerously from their horses are deliuered from death CHAP. XXVII IT is lesse admirable
better sort are bountifully intertained CHAP. III. BVT Pope Gregory not forgetting that which he determined in the beginning of his Popedome that is to say to amplify the State of the House of Loreto and of the Christian world as at Rome and els where of diuers Nations so at last he determined at Loreto to institute a Colledge of Sclauonians that it might be a great solace and aide to that afflicted Nation Wheruppon he gaue commaundment that three hundred yong men should be instructed there in learning and good manners not onely to be a glory to the Sclauonian people but also an ornament to the House of Loreto it self To whome he allowed sufficient mayntenance out of the treasury of Loreto and certaine houses where the hospitall was before building a new hospitall in an other place These Sclauonian students were appointed to be present in the Church on festiuall daies in their surplisses to assist and serue at high Masse and to be instructed and taught were committed to the Fathers of the Society of Iesus Meane while the Pope vsing all diligence to increase and beautify the sacred ornature of the Church set vp an other paire of Organes of great variety and curiosity garnished with gold and paynting From which time the Church of Loreto hath had two notable paire of Organes to witt them of Iulius and of Gregory that great variety of musicke might grace the solemne seruice Cardinall Morono departing this life the Pope preferred Cardinall Vastauillanus his sisters sonne to that dignity Vitalis Leonorius Gouernour of Loreto who assoone as Vincent Casale was elected Bishop of Massa appointed Vitalis Leonorius a man not to be misliked to gouerne Loreto who being a very industrious man with carefull manuring of the ground increased the reuenewes of the House of Loreto and nothing at all diminishing her benignity to poore Pilgrims The hospitalyty of the House of Loreto prouided to intertaine Noble men very liberally and bountifully For which purpose he magnificently adorned the new and goodly parlour lately built in the Popes Pallace where he intertained principall men very carefully prouiding for them whatsoeuer belonged to good hospitality Wheruppon all returned home full of ioy and comfort reporting that they were very liberally vsed and intreated at Loreto which was as profitable to the sacred House as honourable to our B. Lady The piety and munificence of Duke Ioyeuse and of the King of France CHAP. IIII. NEVER before did more Peeres of diuers Nations honour the House of Loreto Vict Brigant with their presence and gifts as witnesseth Victor Brigantius who being a godly Priest and Resident at Loreto wrote an Appēdix of the History of Loreto affirming that now at this time many principall men came to visit the sacred House of Loreto and to present most worthy gifts Duke Ioyeuse comming out of France to Loreto to salute the Mother of God and shewing no lesse singes of deuotion then of liberality spent eight whole daies in the seruice of our B. Lady and in admiration of the House of Loreto within which time he thrice receaued the heauēly banquet in the most Maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin and at his departure put foure thousand Crownes into the arke with memorable munificence But not contenting himself with this gift as he returned by Florēce from Rome from reuerencing the Pope in dutifull sort he sent the like summe of gold to the B. Virgin fo◠a gift adding thereunto two siluer lamps of great weight which burne continually before the B. Virgin in token of the notable and almost Princely munificence of Duke Ioyeuse This money built good part of the lodgings which were appointed to intertaine principall men to wit those which at this day do stand right against the Church of Loreto which albeit they were quickly brought vnto their full height notwithstanding they remaine rude and vnperfect Neither did the King of France himself yield vnto the Princely munificēce of a Duke of Frāce A vvorrhy gift of the King of France For when by reason of publicke affaires Henry the iij. could not himself visit honour the B. Virgin of Loreto with gifts in his place he sent vnto her a Princely gift by a Portugese one of the chiefe Peeres of France the yeare 1584. which was a worthy Cuppe to obtaine by the intercession of the B. Virgin issue male for the King and his Kingdome a gift for substance and worke most excellent For the Cuppe it self is of a hollowed gemme at this day called the Azure-stone ancient writers call it a Saphire as some thinke It is also very big and intermingled with golden veines the couer wherof is of turned Chrystall set in gold and adorned with many excellentiewells In the toppe of the couer an Angell of gold doth hold in his hand a lilly of Diamōdes the armes of the Kingdome of France which lilly doth consist of three Diamondes ioyned togeather in the gold with admirable art The foote of the Cuppe being Emerald is bound about and supported with gold which is notably adorned with precious stones rich oriēt pearls In the bottome of the Emerald foote which we said to be of gold the giuer and the cause of his gift is engrauen in manner following O Queene who by thy worthy Sonne Didst ioyfull blessing bring To all the world blesse with a Sonne The Kingdome and the King HENRY THE III. KING OF FRANCE AND POLONY THE YEARE OF OVR SALVATION M.D.LXXXIV But by the secret iudgment of God somtimes that effect is not giuen to our praiers as we wish that they may be heard for our good The gift was accepted but the vow not obtained Other gifts of the Nobility of France CHAP. V. AFTERWARD the Duke D'Oaumale one of the chiefe Princes of France Vict. Brigant came to visit the House of Loreto where rightly receauing the sacred mysteries he spent almost foure daies in the most Maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin very deuoutly in praier and at his departure henoured the Mother of God with gifts Shortly after a worthy gift of the Duke of Espernon was brought to Loreto The fall of the Duke of Espernon graced with a notable miracle The Duke of Espernon going from Gascony to Lions to Henry King of France in the way met the Duke of Ioyeuse traualling to the same place Who after mutuall salutations began to trauell together and comming to a narrow way among steepy hills the horse of Espernon began to fling which turned to the danger of his Maister For as he ernestly endeuoured to stoppe his horse from yearking and plunging he was cast headlong from a high rocke where his seruants taking him vp for dead carried him speedily to the village next vnto Lions Of all others Espernon was most deere to the King and the King himself being moued with this dreadfull message made haft vnto him and there passed all the night procuring remedies to be applied to his most deere friend
diamond and Carbuncle Gregory the xiij being Pope Also after his Embassage to Rodulph the Emperour Cardinall Madruzzo presented to the B. Virgin of Loreto for a gift The gift of Cardinall Madruzzo a siluer Crosse being the ensigne of such Legates in token of his Legacie happily performed by her protection and help The piety and gifts of the Princes of Italy CHAP. VII AT that time the piety and liberality of the Nobility of Italy was very notable Vict Brigant Iohn Piccolhomini sent a siluer plate representing two mules carrying a horslitter The gift of Iohn Picolhomini and of many others wherof the one doth strike with his heeles a man lying on the ground no doubtfull argument of danger eschewed by the help of the B. Virgin of Loreto Iohn Baptista Duara Gonzaga siluer fetters insteed of the yron-ones wherwith he was fettered in token that he got his liberty by the fauour of our B. Lady of Loreto Lewis Martinengo of Bressa foure Chalices of siluer guilt The Marquesse of Est her owne and the Image of her sonne praying to our B. Lady in plate of siluer of 14. pound weight The Duke of Atria two Images of Angells of a Cubit and a half of excellent worke of xxxvj pound weight which are placed before the B. Virgin on the Altar and present continually burning lights which the inscription engrauen in the base doth shew to be votiue gifts The Duke of Terra-Noua a siluer lampe hanging of xxij pound very notable both for workmanship and weight Emanuell Philibertus Duke of Sauoy his owne Image adorned with a Crowne and a scepter made all of pure gold in manner of a suppliant of ten pound weight Cardinall Columna the Legate of Picene a siluer Cuppe of excellent worke of no small weight Cardinall Arigonio a golden Chalice of great price by reason of iewells and pearls a Chrystall Crosse with the Image of Christ of gold and foure siluer Candlesticks of great beauty Cardinall Riario ornature of damaske for the Altar and the Priest Augustine Cusano who afterward was admitted into the Colledge of the Cardinalls furniture for the Priest and the Altar of gold and siluer And Pope Gregory himself much reioycing that the sacred House of Loreto was thus reuerenced and adorned with gifts desired to haue a speciall gift of his owne to remaine there for euer The fourth Sunday of Lent called Dominica Laetare of the Introite of the Masse of an ancient solemne custome the Romā Bishops do consecrate a golden Rose The stemme or plant wherof is of flourishing roses of gold which being put into a golden Cuppe standing on a triple foote of gold is more thē a Cubit half in height said to be worth a thousand Crownes And this Pontificall gift wont for the most part to be presented to Queenes Gregory sent to the B. Virgin of Loreto as Queene of Heauen and earth And in the midle of the Cuppe there is a godly inscription for a remembrance of him that gaue it About the same time Nicolas Caietan the Cardinall of Sermoneta honoured the House of Loreto with a new kind of gift who either for the generall deuotion of his family for he was of the House of Boniface the eight whose Popedome the comming of the most sacred Cell into Italy made very famous or els of a certaine priuate affection was wholy deuoted to the B. Virgin of Loreto For being well and in good heath he chose a place for his sepulcher in the Church of Loreto not far from the Cell of the Mother of God and caused it to be beautified with magnificent worke The forme wherof is very notable and large adorned with sundry sorts of marble and graced with a brazen Image of Nicolas the Cardinall of great curiosity and beauty The marble stone vnderneath hath this Epitaph NICOLAS CAIETAN THE CARDINALL OF SERMONETA OF THE FAMILIE OF POPE BONIFACIVS THE 8. CALLING TO MIND THAT THIS MOST SACRED HOVSE VVAS SEATED HEERE BY THE HAND-VVORKE OF GOD ABOVT THE TIME THAT HE ENTRED INTO HIS POPEDOME AND THAT HIMSELF HATH OBTAINED MANY THINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD BY THE PRAIER OF THE B. VIRGIN THE MOTHER OF GOD AND ALSO HOPING THAT HER HELP VVIL NOT FAILE HIM AT HIS DEATH ALIVVE AND IN GOOD HEALTH HATH PROCVRED THIS MONVMENT OF MARBLE TO BE MADE FOR HIM THAT HIS BODY MAY BE BVRIED IN IT VVHEN HE SHAL DEPART THIS MORTALL LIFE BEING NOVV 54. YEARES OF AGE HE DIED ALMOST AT THREESCORE THE YEARE OF OVR SALVATION M.D.LXXXV IN THE MONETH OF MAY. And Nicolas departing this life was brought from Rome to Loreto where his funeralls were made with great honour and solemnity and the Sepulcher being finished long agoe his body was laid into it and a stone put ouer it with this title HEERE I VVIL DVVELL BECAVSE I HAVE CHOSEN IT At this day in the Church of Loreto there is a great Hearse of cloth of gold bordered about with a great border of black Veluet in some places magnificently adorned with the armes of the Caietan family and in other with golden Crosses in token of his stately funeralls The rashnesse of those which tooke away small peeces of the stones and the morter of the most sacred House is punished from heauen CHAP. VIII THE same yeare to wit 1585. by a new Miracle Almighty God shewed what care he hath of the sacred House of Loreto For a particle of one of the sacred stones was brought backe out of Sicily long after the fault was committed and punishmēt suffered therfore Aboue twenty yeares a Cittizen of Palermo comming to Loreto secretly taking a litle stone out of the sacred Cell of the Mother of God by no shew of piety in that rash deed nor the ignorance of the Pontificall inhibition by any meanes could be deliuered from the wrath of God For assoone as he returned home forthwith he was troubled with a grieuous sicknes And lest the cause of his suddaine griefe might be doubtfull yearly about the same time that he committed the fault he suffered punishment for it Wheruppon strēgth suddainly fayling him in the moneth of September or October he was molested with a grieuous feuer and by iudgment of the Physitians there could be no naturall cause therof and he acknowledged not his fault coloured vnder the name of piety But it continued 20. yeares all which time there was neither cause nor end of his incurable disease And at last when no other cause of the sicknes still returning by course could be found Religion entred into his heauy mind being much tormented with a guilty conscience he opened the wound vnto a Priest who told him that the cause of his sicknes was his rash piety earnestly exhorting him to restore the sacred stone if he would make sure way for his health It was spoken to no deafe eares For the sicke man being commanded as it were by a heauēly voice deliuered him the sacred stone to be sent backe to the
DVKE OF TVSCANY DEDICATED IT TO THE B. VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD FOR PRESERVING HIS GALLIES FROM THE PLAGVE THE YEARE M.D.XCIII And the gift of Cardinall Mont-alto was notable for value and weight who dedicated to the B. Virgin of Loreto a siluer Image of himself and his brother of great beauty and of a hundred and fifty pound weight with this deuour inscription ALEXANDER PERETTO CARD MONTALTO VICECHANCELLOVR OF THE HOLY ROMAN CHVRCH THE NEPHEVV OF XYSTVS V. BEING MINDFVLL AND GRATEFVLL TO OVR B. LADY OF LORETO FOR PRESERVING HIM AND MICHAEL HIS BROTHER GAVE IT FOR DEVOTION SAKE THE YEARE M.D.XCIV The worke is said to haue stood in more than two thousand Crownes The gifts of Noble women CHAP. XXI The gift of the Viceroyes vvife of Boemia of other Noble vvomen AT that time the liberality of noble womē was very notable Polixena Pernestaina the Viceroies wife of Boemia presēted to the B. Virgin of Loreto for a gift the head of S. Geriō Captaine of the Thebeans inclosed in a worthy case which being parcell guilt and curiously wrought frō the brest representeth S. Geriō in armour The armour it self is adorned with gold siluer and on the Martyrs head doth stand a Crowne of precious stones vnder which a base of Ebony siluer sheweth the reliques of the Thebean Martyrs inclosed in chrystall which Polixena sent as a votiue gift to our B. Lady for restoring of health vnto her husband The Princesse of Vastalla dedicated to the B. Virgin two golden Images the one of her self the other of her husband with two hartes of gold the whole of six pound weight Mary Boadilia a Galley in a plate of siluer with a high Image of our B. Lady of Loreto The Princesse of Castro-uetrano a Crosse of gold litle truly for quantity but notable for substāce for it is adorned with six diamonds set in gold The Duchesse of Niuers presented by her husband two siluer Candlesticks of costly worke of eight pound weight Hieronyma Spinula ornature for the Altar of violet damaske wrought with gold two Crewets of siluer with their ewer curiously richly engrauen Violanta Farnesia two siluer Candle sticks of good worke Salustia Crescentia a Roman siluer attire for the B. Virgin flourished with golden starres The Princesse of Bisinia a golden Dragon beautified with iewells valewed at 700. Crownes Iustina Vice-Count ornature of needle-worke of gold siluer and silke flourished with admirable and new worke For the worke it self being laid on no ground nor directiō is wrought with the needle with continued intermingled threeds of gold siluer silke of diuers colours void spaces left betweene commonly called A point in the aire A worke of secret skill and almost of infinite labour For the ornature wherof we speake being made for the Altar and also of the said worke contayneth the xv Mysteries of the Rosary of our B. Lady very curiously expressed within square spaces wherof euery other is adorned with great flowres as it were of Checker-worke and that these voide spaces might not be vnfilled all the ornature is stitched with twisted siluer which truly if we belieue the report was not only the gift of Vicecount a most worthy Matron but also her owne worke which may very well be cōsidering that there are many gifts of other noble women which themselues did also worke specially veiles for Chalices attire for our B. Lady Isabell Cosen-German to the Duke of Sauoy and wife of the Lord Siluester N. sent a worthy gift wrought as they say with her owne hands to wit ornature for the Altar Priest and Ministers celebrating with solemnity made of silke and gold with new and admirable worke Iacoba Duchesse of Cleeue sister to the Marques of Saltzthurg a chayne of gold adorned with a hanging globe of carbuncle diamond The comming and gift of Christine wife to the Great Duke of Tuscany CHAP. XXII THE comming of Christine wife to the Great Duke of Tuscany was very memorable for many tokens of piety and munificence who setting forth towards Loreto with a most Princely trayne brought with her great gifts and not forgetting Christian modesty and holy S. Francis put on a plaine garment of ash-colour laid aside gold and iewells that in such simple attire she might delight the eyes of the heauenly Queene whome she knew allwaies to loue pouerty And the example of the deuout Lady preuailed so much with her maids matrons seruants and the guard of her person that all that did accompany her in this pilgrimage did imitate her modesty and attire Neither did Clement the Pope faile to forward her worthy piety For as she passed through the townes of the Popes Dominions which way soeuer she went intertaynment was giuen her after a Princely sort when not onely the playnesse of her attire was holdē for a wonder but also her exceeding piety for an example specialy after she approached neere to Loreto For assoone as she came out of Recanaty and beheld the Church of Loreto a far of forth with she made hast out of the horslitter wherin she rode fell downe on her knees and in the very way saluted the B. Virgin none of her traine refusing to do that worke of piety which their Lady performed Going thence afoote to Loreto with certaine Bishops and the rest of her retinew she went straight to the House of our B. Lady and contemning cushions and all other Princely furniture kneeled downe very deuoutly in the Porch of the most sacred House But the Bishops Card. Gallo himself ernestly persuading her to come into the sacred Cell of the Mother of God she answered that it did not beseeme her to passe that most Maiesticall threshold and to present herselfe before the most holy Virgin vntill she had cleansed her sinnes by sacred Confession Neither could their intreaties make her to alter her determination such singular deuotion did her deuout soule shew towards the B. Virgin of Loreto Wherefore at last hauing rightly purified her soule and receiued the heauenly banquet she entred into the most sacred Cell the feruour of her piety as it happeneth much increasing by delay For this meane while hauing a more feruent desire to see and reuerence our B. Lady she kneeled downe very reuerently and spent many houres deuoutly in prayer which she did not once onely but three dayes together for so long she remayned at Loreto All which time she was so conuersant in the Church and attentiue to diuine prayer that you would haue thought she had dwelt in the Church Like magnificence corresponded to these tokens of piety For at her departure she sent children into the Church with gifts of Princely munificēce Among which were ornaments for the Altar Priest Ministers celebrating with solemnity curled three manner of waies with gold siluer of admirable workmanship and art Lynnen for the Altar of most excellent stuffe worke For it is wrought all-ouer with excellent pictures of
than to goe about to say more of those things which I should but impayre and lessen by my discourse But this I dare boldly affirme that the Celebrity Maiesty of Loreto is so great as they who haue not seene it with their eyes can not conceiue it in their mindes so that if hereafter you conferre that which you haue heard with these things which we haue rehearsed you shall find the fame to be much lesse than the thing it self So much by her incredible Maiesty and dignity doth one Loreto on earth not only surpasse all credit but euen very fame it self which is wont to declare explicate all things to the vttermost To the greater glory of God and of our B. Lady of Loreto A TABLE OF THE PARTICVLAR CHAPTERS CONTEYNED IN THIS History of LORETO In the first Booke 1 THe House of our B. Lady is reuerenced with great honour in Galiley Chap. I. 2 Hauing lost that reuerēce it is miraculously transported into Dalmatia Chap. II. 3 By reuelation of our B. Lady her House is knowne and honoured with a Miracle Chap. III. 4 The miracle is diligently sought out by certaine men sent into Galiley Chap. IIII. 5 It departeth out of Selauony with great lamentation of the Dalmatians Chap. V. 6 Being brought into Picene it is seated in a wood of Recanati Chap. VI. 7 It is remooued out of the wood vnto the Hill of the two Brothers Chap. VII 8 It forsaketh the Hill of the two Brothers by reason of their discord Chap. VIII 9 The impressions of the places where the sacred House hath stood Chap. IX 10 The chiefe place and the admirable situation of the House of Loreto Chap. X. 11 By manifestation of the Dalmatians the Picentians know it Chap. XI 12 An Eremite prouoketh the Picentians to in quire diligently of the matter Chap. XII 13 The miracle is sought out by certaine men sent into Galiley Chap. XIII 14 The Picentians choose our B. Lady for their Patronesse Chap. XIIII 15 Heauenly signes make the sacred House more illustrious and more knowne Chap. XV. 16 The walls adioyned to the sacred House for a support giue backe a certaine distance Chap. XVI 17 Heauenly lights make the day of the B. Virgins Natiuity more solemnized in her natiue House Chap. XVII 18 The Cittizens of Recanati inuirone the sacred House within a Church Chap. XVIII 19 The sacred House is adorned with Indulgences by Pope Benedict the xij Chap. XIX 20 The State of the House of Loreto whiles the Popes sate at Auignon in France Chap. XX. 21 The continuāce of Schisme was no small hinderāce to the ornamēts of the House of Loreto Cha. XXI 22 Pope Martin the V. adorneth the sacred House with Indulgences and Faires Chap. XXII 23 The wealth of the Church of Loreto whiles Eugenius the IIII. was Pope Chap. XXIII 24 The House of Loreto is graced with Indulgences by Pope Nicolas the V. Chap. XXIIII 25 Pope Callistus the third fortifying the sacred House against the Turkes putteth the Barbarians to flight much frighted with a great ouerthrow Chap. XXV 26 By restoring of health to Pope Pius the second it began to be far more famous illustrious Chap. XXVI 27 The Bishop of Recanati doth enrich it with worthy possessions Chap. XXVII 28 The summe of the History of Loreto is set vp in the Church by Tereman the Gouernour Cha. XXVIII In the second Booke 1 POpe Paul the second being cured of the plague goeth about to beautify the sacred House of Loreto with a new Church and to adorne it with his decrees Chap. I. 2 Iames a Franciscan is deliuered from an incurable disease from the assault of Diuells Chap. II. 3 The ancient Decrees are graced with new by Pope Xystus the IV. Chap. III. 4 A great Army of Turkes ready to spoile the wealth of Loreto is put to flight by miracle Chap. IIII. 5 Pope Innocentius the VIII doth reuerence it with gifts and doth also cōmit it to the Gouernment of the Carmelites Chap. V. 6 The testimony of Baptista Mantuanus of the said House of Loreto Chap. VI. 7 A Noble woman of Frāce being possessed with seauē Diuels is deliuered Chap. VII 8 The gift of the Citty of Recanati for her deliuerance from the plague Chap. VIII 9 The Decrees of Pope Iulius the second his works in the new Church and the gifts of Noble men Chap. IX 10 A Noble woman of France is cured of the palsey Chap. X. 11 Pope Iulius the second finisheth and fortifieth the Church of Loreto Chap. XI 12 Pope Iulius being defended from a great shot doth beautify the House of Loreto with gifts Cha. XII 13 A girle of seauen yeares of age is brought to Loreto by the B Virgin her self Chap. XIII 14 Neere vnto the Porch of the Church of Loreto the Popes Pallace is begunne by Iulius the second Chap. XIIII 15 The Queenes of Naples visit the House of Loreto Chap. XV. 16 Pope Leo the X. doth adorne it with most worthy Decrees Chap. XVI 17 The sacred House is adorned with Princely ornaments and Donaries Chap. XVII 18 A Dalmatian Priest commeth to Loreto carrying vp his bowels with his hand Chap. XVIII 19 Diuers assaults of the Turks are repulsed by Miracle Chap. XIX 20 It deceiueth the auarice of the Christian army Chap. XXI 21 It is walled about by Pope Leo the X. Also the notable worke of the caruing is forwarded Chap. XXI 22 Pope Clemēt the VII doth beautify the sacred House with Decrees and other things Chap. XXII 23 The Architect presuming to dig through the sacred walls is stroken senselesse Chap. XXIII 24 Pope Clement being protected by the help of the B. Virgin of Loreto doth adorne her with speciall care Chap. XXIV 25 Loreto is made more healthfull by cutting downe the woods Chap. XXV 26 Pope Clement sendeth three of his Chamber into Dalmatia and Galiley to inquire of the remouall of the sacred House Chap. XXVI 27 Three Noble-men are deliuered from danger of death Cha. XXVII 28 The testimony of Friar Leander of the House of Loreto Chap. XXVIII 29 The House of Loreto is enriched honoured with many gifts Chap. XXIX In the third Booke 1 POpe Paul the third adorneth the sacred House with benefits Decrees Chap. I. 2 Loreto is committed to the Protection of the people of Recanati Chap. II. 3 A Fraternity of Children is instituted to sing solemne praise to the B. Virgin of Loreto Chap. III. 4 The new Hospitall and the Spittle are opened in fauour of the Pilgrims Chap. IIII. 5 The Reliques of the House of Loreto propagate her Religion Chap. V. 6 The description of the carued-worke wherwith the sacred House is inuironed Chap. VI. 7 The Thole of the Church beginning to cleaue is strengthened Chap. VII 8 The House of Loreto is enriched with new gifts Chap. VIII 9 The Captaine of a Band of Horsmen is deliuered from manifest danger of a Riuer Chap. IX 10 Pope Paul the third