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
who endued that new feate with worthy institutions and examples But that Loreto might not haue the name of a Citty in vaine or impertinently Xystus bought the hill next to Loreto by the inhabitants called Monte-Regal and purposed to leuell it that he might make more space on that side to enlarge the new Citty And for furnishing the same with building he gaue commandement to all the Citties of Picene that euery one should build there their seuerall houses which they willingly obeyed Meane time not onely with force but also with money and good policy the Pope pacified Picene and the rest of his owne dominions infested with theeues For incensing the theeues themselues the banished men against their fellowes with hope of impunity and reward he procured the Captaines to be slaine and many of their followers to be either killed by their owne fellowes or els reduced by reason that their associats were destroied made away For which cause the Citties of Picene erected a worthy Statua of brasse of a Picene Pope well deseruing of their people and of the House of Loreto At which time the sacred house of our B. Lady wanted not her ornaments For the Pillars which insteed of Columnes support the vauted roofe and the vaut it self of the Church was adorned with marble worke at the charge of Cantucius the Bishop One of the bigger Chappell 's was adorned by Cardinall Arigonio The chappell of Cardinall Arigonio with notable pictures expressing the worthy deedes of S. Thomas of Aquine in pariecting and guilding And the greatest of all the Chappell 's desired by the Dukes of Tuscany and Bauaria to take away coÌ„tention was adorned by the CoÌ„monalty of Picene The chappell of the CoÌ„monalty of Picene with curious workes both of paynting and plaistering and also garnished with much gold This meane while Leonorius the Gouernour vsing all diligence to adorne and augment the State of Loreto by means of Lactantius Ventura a notable Architect brought the forefront of the Church almost vnto the top a worke for the most part finished by Gregory and built good part of the Bishops pallace ouer against the Church The gift of the Archduke of Austria Also Ferdinand Archduke of Austria hauing vnderstanding of the building of Loreto by the Duke of Bauaria by his persuasion gaue great store of timber out of his woods to the B. Virgin of Loreto which being put into a vessel and sent by the Adriaticke sea by fauour of our B. Lady came safe to Loreto among which was such aboundance of huge beames and boardes as were thought to be well worth three thousand Crownes Cardinall Ioyeuse recommendeth his Protection of France to the B. Virgin of Loreto CHAP. XI ABOVT seauen Moneths after Cantucius the first Bishop of Loreto entred into his Bishopricke Vict. Brigant he departed this life leauing behind him great loue of all towards him specially of the poore whose Father he was accompted So great fame of sanctimony is related of him that it may easily appeare to be true which is holden for a Prouerbe that the first Bishop of euery Citty must be a Saint After Cantucius Rutilius Benzonius a Cittizen of Rome famous for learning and zeale of Ecclesiasticall dignity was elected Bishop of Loreto Rutitius â—enzonius Bishop of Loreto who graced the house so notably with holy sermons and worthy institutions that now for sacred pompe and Maiesty she is inferiour to none of the holiest Churches About that time Cardinall Ioyeuse the new Protector of France comming out of France to Rome and turning to Loreto with a traine of Noble men was brought to the most sacred House by Mattheucius Archbishop of Ragusa Gouernour of Ancona by Octanio Bandino President of Picene and by Rutilius Benzonius Bishop of Loreto who went to meet the Cardinall as he was coÌ„ming thither And when Ioyeuse had said Masse very deuoutly in the sacred Cell of the B. Virgin he said that he seriously determined to recommend his Protection of France to the most certaine Patronesse of mortall men For which cause he procured the solemne praier of the Forty Houres whose godly endeauour the Bishop of Loreto did not onely approue by his authority but also with a worthy Sermon After the Sermon a solemne procession was performed with great zeale of all the people aswell of the Cleargie and townes-folkes of Loreto as of a good company of Capuchines which Ioyeuse had brought with him for that purpose And the Cardinall yielding to none in that wherof himselfe was the Author was an example of piety and modesty to his and all the rest The worthy indeauours of Cardinall Gallo Patron of Loreto towards the B. Virgin CHAP. XII BVT this yeare was not so famous as lamentable for the affaires of Loreto Vict. Brigant Two daies after the publicke praier Leonorius the Gouernour of Loreto then the Cardinall Patron Vastauâ—â—lano himself died one after an other of a pestiferous disease Card. Gallo Patron of Loreto Francis Gallo Gouernour of Loreto Wheruppon the Patronship of Loreto was giuen to Antonio Maria Gallo the Cardinall then Bishop of Perugia now of Auximo who preferred Iohn Francis Gallo his Vncle to the Gouernment of Loreto And shortly after by the Popes commandment Cardinall Gallo the new Patron coÌ„ming to Loreto and being receiued with great ioy and gratulation of all sortes set downe Lawes and Decrees to the Citty of Loreto for creating of magistrates they yeare of our Redemption 1587. Also this very yeare the brazen Statua of Xystus V. the Pope made most curiously by Bernardine was set vp on the staires of the Church with great gladnes of the people of Loreto and of all the Picentians and also with great concourse of borderers and strangers And whiles Iohn Francis Gallo was Gouernour of Loreto The forefroÌ„t of the Church of Loroto the forefront of the Church was at last finished to be a most notable ornament to the sacred House of our B. Lady For it was magnificently set forth and curiously ended and all made of Istrian stone exactly squared which being brought from Istria doth seeme like to that of Tybur in old time and also at this day much vsed by the Romanes and also finished with such art that you would say so great a worke were almost all one stone In the midst of this forefront the great Gate being as it were the mouth therof is adorned with striged Pillars of marble and with an arched Coron Also the sides haue two lesser dores with Pedestalls and Pillars called Ionickes on which the forefront it self doth stand Ouer the great Gates was set vp a brazen Image of our B. Lady imbracing her little sonne polished most curiously by Lombardo the Statuary Vnder the roofe of the forefront a great window being as it were the eye of the worke adorned with striged Pillars and workes engrauen doth giue light vnto the Church Ouer the window the Title of the House of Loreto is
by this occasion Oratories were erected in honour of the B. Virgin of Loreto in diuers parts of the world either as monuments to their people of her singular protection or els as solaces to them whome sicknes busines or other impediments hindred from going to Loreto For it is well knowne but at this time speciallie not in Picene and Italie onelie but also beyond the Alpes and in far remote Countreys many Chappell 's were erected to the B. Virgin of Loreto To the builders whereof what could be more wished to increase the religion of those sacred places then to haue some reliques of the House of Loreto What could be more desired when religion forbad to take thence the sacred stones than to intreate a particle of the roofe which the keepers of their liberality would not vnwillinglie bestow Truly much about this time I finde that many Sacred Houses were dedicated to the B. Mother of Loreto in all places of the world which in very deed I put not among the least of the B. Virgin of Loreto her praises her memorie to haue beene so gratesull deere vnto strangers that they would haue a perpetuall monument an Image of her at home in their owne countrey And to say nothing of Picene wherof there is no Cittie Churches built to our B. Ladie of Loreto nor towne almost where there is not some Church in memorie of the B. Virgin of Loreto the noblest Citties of Italie haue erected no ordinarie Churches in honour of our B. Ladie of Loreto At Rome there is a magnificeÌ„t Church of the B. Virgin of Loreto At Rome worthie the Roman munificence the modell wherof as the report goeth was plotted drawne by Michaell Archangell Bonaroto a most notable Architect At Neples And Naples also hath no meane Church of the B. Virgin of Loreto and graced with an hospitall of poore Orphans Besides as now I vnderstaâ—â— for certaine in the two noblest Citâ—â—â—â—â— Sicilie at Palermo I say and at Messina there is a most holie memorie of the B. Virgin of Loreto At Palermo and Messina And in Palermo the Church which is dedicated to her name is within the Cittie but at Messina in the Suburbs Neither did this deuotion towards the sacred House of Loreto containe it self in the boundes of Italie but speedilie passed beyond the Alpes For Friar Vincent a good and a godly maÌ„ a deuout Priest of the Order of the Franciscans returning from Loreto into France In France at Laual in the Suburbs of Laual a towne of the diocesse of Mayin built a litle House like to the Chapell of Loreto and called it the B. Virgin of Loreto which at this day is exceedinglie reuerenced both of the inhabitants and strangers And albeit Portugall be indued with most famous and religious Houses of the B. Virgin mother of God notwithstanding it imitated this deuotion towards the House of Loreto In Portugall at Conymbria For the Cittizens of Conymbria not far froÌ„ their Cittie to witte in a most pleasant place of the Suburbs dedicated a Church in honour of the B. Virgin of Loreto which is celebrated with great concourse of the adioyning people At Compostella At Lisbone At Compostella there is an other and a third at Lisbone most maiesticall which abeit it were built and magnificeÌ„tlie adorned by the Italians notwithstaÌ„ding the inhabitaÌ„ts theÌ„selues do religiously frequent it Besides I find by approued authors that manie yeares agone two Churches were erected to our B. Ladie of Loreto in the Kingdome of Scotland In ScotlaÌ„d At Saint Iohns At Edenburrovv the one in the towne Perth otherwise called S. Iohns the other by the high way that goeth to Missilburrow not far from Edenburrow the chiefe cittie of Scotland In both places the B. Virgin of Loreto was most religiouslie reuerenced and that in the Suburbs of Missilburrow was most famous for the resort concourse of Pilgrims and the miracles of our B. Ladie as long as the Catholicke Religion remayned in Scotland But after Caluins pestiferous doctrine began to rage and raigne in that Kingdome heretofore most religious those furies destroied that sacred House of our B. Ladie but so notwithstaÌ„ding that the ruines therof might remaine both as tokens of their madnes and also as manifest signes of the ancient religion of the Scottish people And this as we vnderstand was the beginning of the Chappell of Missiburrow Manie yeares agone in the attire habit of a Pilgrime a Scottish Eremite came to Loreto to salute the B. Virgin who at his departure carried with him into his Countrey a small part of the sacred roofe and begging money of godlie men not far from the towne of Missilburrow erected a litle Church some thing like to the sacred House of Loreto which was verie famous aswell for reuerence of the sacred reliques which were placed there as also for the deuotion of the people to the B. Virgin herself whose name was illustrious among them vntill as we said before the mad furie of Hereticks threw it downe The description of the carued-worke wherwith the most sacred House is adorned round about CHAP. VI. AT that time the reuerence of the House of Loreto was propagated abroad and increased at home The 38. yeare of this age Paul the Pope opened that most famous monument of PoÌ„tificall magnificence designed by Iulius begunne by Leo effected by Clement but not wholy perfected for many of the Statuaes and all the brazen leaues of the dores were wanting yet was it brought to that passe that it might seeme as finished Truly a worke so excellent and so admirable that the new and most magnificent workmanship therof was yet neuer equalled in like quantity for it doth very well appeare by the books of accompt that the sayd worke stood in two twenty thousaÌ„d Crownes besides twenty Statuaes liuely wrought foure brazen leaues curiously ingrauen which cost almost as much The most worthy ornament which doth inuiron the sacred Cell of the B. Virgin is foure-square almost all of white solid marble carued with admirable art in length about 50. foote in breadth about 30. and the height almost equall to the breadth The whole worke is made of Carrara marble of great beautie and notably graced with striged Pillars of Corinth worke wherof six adorne the larger sides and foure the lesser A fascia of Lucullan marble about a foote broad is curiously wrought about the lowest part of this ornament in steed of the ground-worke Then arise the Cornisht Pedestalls which fitlie distinguish adorne the spaces And in the spaces Pedestalls theÌ„selues are placed either the armes of Descent or Acquist of Pope Leo or els memories of his vertues in carued scutchions some of a foot some of a cubite set forth with great art and skill Vpon the Pedestalls are placed two Pillars at euerie corner but in the longer sides two also in the middle that is to say by the two
ancient custome he daily went vnto it to adore God and his B. mother in the place where his seet had stood Wherupon Paul giuing him selfe to prayer and to the meditation of heauenly thinges in the sight of the most sacred Chappell as his custome was as if it were in the fight of our B. Lady her selfe he often obserued that a heauenly flame spreading abroad far wide Heauenly fire doth rest ouer the sacred House in manner of a great blazing starre rested ouer the Cell of the B. Virgin And obseruing the thing the time very diligently he found that on the 6. of the Ides of September that is to say on the very day of the B. Virgins birth yearly about the fourth Vigill of the night a great flame falling from heauen and couering the roofe of her sacred house with an vniforme brightnes within a while ascēded on high from whence it came Which wonderfull spectacle did not only replenish him with great ioy but also amazed him And as he was a man of true simplicitie he supposed that the B. Virgin her selfe came from heauen into her natiue House in likenes of a flame to celebrate her birth Wherupon hauing a desire to behold so great a wonder neere at hand he began to expect the opportunity of the time thē the which nothing seemed longer vnto him At length when the yeare came about that heauenly flame shewed it selfe againe he speedily ranne vnto it to behold with his eyes as he beleeued and with all deuotiō to salute the Queene of heauen inuironed with blisle But the neerer his hope was of approaching vnto it the more the thing and the flame at first diminished and at last vanished away and withdrew it selfe quite out of sight leauing the credulous beholder frustrate of his expectation which inflamed his godly hart with a more ardent affection and desire as if he had receiued all that heauenly fire into him selfe though he was altogeather ignorāt what it might portend And hauing thus spent ten whole yeares yeare by yeare alwayes the selfe same day this heauenly flame hanging ouer the sacred House deceiuing the hope of the beholder more more inflamed his godly desire But at length obtaining it of Almightie God by prayer he had his wish For in his quiet rest in the night time he learned by a heauenly vision that the natiue House of the B. Virgin was honoured with an anniuersary flame the very day of her natiuitie because it was to her liking to haue that day to be kept and reuerenced there with great solemnitie Wherfore Paul who vntill this day had concealed this admirable spectacle in great silence now either vpon deuotion or els as it may be supposed compelled by the B. Virgin in his rest went speedily to Recanati and declared the whole matter to the Bishop and to the Magistrates of the Cittie who through the opinion of his sanctitie was esteemed a graue authour euen of so great a thing And the Bishop being moued with the authoritie of the man and with the congruencie of the thing and the time beleeued that the heauenly vision was vnfayned and presently published it abroad that the people of Recanati might reuerence the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin with speciall honour deuotiō the very day of her natiuitie Wherby it came to passe that afterward the adioyning also remote people either imitating the example of the people of Recanati The day of our B. Ladies natiuitie is had in greatest reuerence or els stirred with the fame of this miracle chiefly in the month of Septēber assēbled to Loreto with great zeale to celebrate the day of our B. Ladies birth And shortly after the new bountie of the Popes increased the deuotion of the people who chieflie at that time as in due place we are to declare granted most ample Indulgences to the House of Loreto And these spectacles of the heauenly flames continued not only many yeares but also many ages For about 20. yeares agone diuers Cittizens of Recanati The vvonder of the heauenly fiers is renevved remarkable for vertue and grauitie reported to Raphael Riera of whom I receiued it that about the day of the B. Virgins natiuitie flames of fire were seene to fall from heauen in the night time on the House of Loreto all the whole Cittie of Recanati looking on and that them selues had seene the same many times with exceeding ioy of mind adding withall that the day before about night when it began to be darke the Cittizens of Recanati hauing a great desire to see so gratefull so pleasant a sight flocked commonly to the houses walles whence they might behold the House of Loreto that they might delight their eyes and mindes with the admirable beautie of that heauenly flame which euery yeare was seene as it was reported vntill the time of Pope Paul the third Riera in Annal. Laur. Ambro. Noui. Fast. l. 9. so that among all the wonders of Loreto there is scarce any more notable than this which not only historiographers set downe in writing but also Nouidius a famous Poet recorded it in a notable poeme which he dedicated to Pope Paul the third which we thought good to insert in this historie Wherfore thus he writeth extolling the B. Virgin with worthy praise To thee therfore are temples built rare monuments of loue As many as be tongues on earth or shyning starres aboue Yet none with that may be compard in which the Virgin bright The Queene of heauen to blesse the world at first was brought to light VVith wonder great this worthy House to good for Parthia land Did mount into the lofty ayer borne vp by Angells hand VVhen after stay in diuers coastes to Italie it came And of the Picene people there did lastlie beare the name And lest succeeding ages should the truth hereof suspect This night strang lights vpon the roofe do glittering beames reflect VVhen the towne of Loreto was gouerned by lawes the Cittizens of Recanati inuironed the Sacred House with a Church CHAP. XVIII THE Cittizens of Recanati being mooued with these heauenly signes Bap. Mant. Hiero. Angel determined to defend adorne the House of Loreto with their vttermost endeuours For when the towne of Loreto was daily more and more frequented by reason that many came thither frō all places to dwell either vpon deuotion to the B. Virgin or els for desire of traffique the Cittizens of Recanati thinking it most conuenient to order them by lawes and statutes The tovvn of Loreto hath a Gouernour giuen vnto it set them downe lawes and gaue them a Magistrate for execution of Iustice Hauing disposed matters in the towne they turned their care to thinges abroad For certaine necessitous and notorious wretches allured either with a fit occasion of robbing or els with the sweetnes of the prey it selfe spoiled many straying and wandering Pilgrimes setting on them among bushes and woodes adioyning
at Auinigon published and kept the celebritie of the secular Iubiley S. Anto. par 3. Plat. Cle. vt reducing it to the 50. yeare wherby the multitude of people which came from all places to Rome was almost incredible wherof many to wit the Inhabitants of Flaminia and Emilia came out of their way to go to the House of Loreto most illustrious with fame But shortly after a horrible plague begining at Rome it selfe the head Cittie of the world wasted all Italy almost with funeralles continued three whole yeares at which time euery hundredth person scarce remaining aliue the Citties of Italy were reduced euen to waste and desolation Which infinite calamitie as I may terme it in very deed inforced many Italians to implore the helpe of our B. Lady of Loreto that in so horrible a tempest and storme they might be protected with the shadow of heauenly helpe About twentie yeares after Vrbane the V. succeeding Clement at last reuisited Rome but not so much to recall thither the Pontificall Sea as to compose the affaires of the Cittie and the troubles of Italy But soone after his returne from the Cittie into Frāce he departed this life After whome Gregory the XI receiued the Popedome who was so mooued with the miseries of Italy and with the worthy prayers of S. Catherine of Siena a virgin of admirable sanctitie that at length he returned the Pontificall Sea to Rome about 70. yeares after it was translated into France The continuance of Schisme depriueth the House of Loreto of many benefites of the Popes CHAP. XXI SHORTLY after Gregory being taken out of this mortall life Vrbane the VI. was created Pope against whom the French factiō subrogated Clement the VII a false Pope who opposed his Auinigon seat against the Sea of Rome which he would haue to be called the Roman wherby the Church was troubled and diuided into two partes But what hinderance the absence of the Roman Bishop was to the ornament and commodities of the House of Loreto was well perceiued euen at that time by his presence For though Vrbane the Pope was molested and disquieted with schisme The Indulgences of Vrbane the V I. and with the armes and treacherie of schismaticall Princes yet in the midst of so many troubles and cares he had some regard to adorne the B. Virgin of Loreto For being acertained of the heauēly flames wont to be seene ouer the House of Loreto the 6. of the Ides of September he applied his mind to honour the heauenly Queene and with Pontificall giftes frō the Vicar of God thought good to adorne the natiue habitation of the B. Virgin beautified with heauenly signes from God him selfe Wherefore to them that visited the House of Loreto the day of the B. Virgins natiuitie he granted most bountifull remission of their sinnes the 90. yeare of that age in very fit time For Bonifacius the IX succeeding Vrbane did not only by example of his Predecessour adorne the House of Loreto with new Indulgences but also kept the celebritie of the Iubiley which according to the institution of Bonifacius the VIII fell in the yeare of our Redemption 1400. And as the Pontificall Sea recalled againe to Rome and a desire to see the Pope drew an innumerable multitude from all partes to the Cittie to visit the Churches of the Apostles so also the fame of these heauēly flames and Pontificall Indulgences excited many of them to visit the Cell of Loreto chiefly in the month of September and ther to celebrate the natiuitie of the Blessed Virgin About the same time Hier. Ang. the Cittizens of Recanati that also in the winter time people might haue free passage to the most sacred House tooke order that the way which went to Loreto should be paued and bordered with bricke by which they erected little oratories of like distance from ech other as instigations to increase deuotion and to succour the Pilgrimes in stormie weather This example of the people of Recanati prouoked the people of Picene to imitate that pious worke wherby the wayes which went to Loreto from the bordering Citties and townes began straight to be paued and from Ancona Auximo Montesanto and Firmo were brought euen to Loreto it selfe Also bridges were made ouer the Riuers which ranne through Pecene that they might giue secure and speedy passage to the Pilgrimes But the continuall disturbance of the Christian state did no lesse hinder the ornaments of the House of Loreto then the aboad of the Romane Bishopps in France had donne For that long and variable schisme wherof the like hath neuer bin troubled many Popes for fortie yeares togeather S. Anto. par 3. vntill Martin the V. with the great liking of all was created Pope in the Councell of Constance who at last brought peace and concord to the Christian world And truely as that foule tempest of discord oppressed the Church and the Popes with many euills so in like maner it depriued the House of Loreto of no small heape of commodities that the times ensuing did well declare Martin the V. adorneth the House of Loreto with Indulgences and faires CHAP. XXII HITHER TO I haue rehearsed many things not very manifest not only for their antiquitie and the disquiet of the whole world but also for that they were badly committed to writing in good part of the time which happened from the translation of the House of our B. Lady out of Galiley till she was setled at Loreto and began to be more more frequented in this great varietie and disturbance of the Christian state Also if there were any thinges in the recordes of Recanati or in other publicke or priuate monuments which might giue light to this Historie for the most part they perished as we said before when the Registry togeather with the Cittie was consumed with fire But the industrie of the Dalmatians supplied the want of the Cittizens of Recanati For the Flumentians bordering on Tersact Hier. Angel in time of Pope Leo the 10. did giue no small light to the first beginning of the historie of Loreto sending those things to the people of Recanati signed in writing which they found in the ancient Chronicles of their forefathers concerning the first remoouall of this most sacred House into Dalmatia their inquisition reuerence the miracles of the same Wherof the Cittizens of Recanati certified Leo the Pope as witnesseth Hierome Angelita who at that very time was Secretarie to the Cittie of Recanati and afterward dedicated his historie of Loreto where he deliuered these thinges to posteritie to Clement the VII Cosin-german to Leo and partaker of his secrets So hauing followed Angelita an authour of no small reputation and credit out of the chronicles of Sclauonio we haue collected the first part of this historie adding therunto out of the proper monumēts of Recanati what the mercilesse fire left vnconsumed But hereafter all that we are to relate will be more euident and copious
miracle and partly the desire they had to see the sacred armie caused to accompany froÌ„ the Cittie it selfe In this iourney the neerer the Pope came to the House of Loreto the better he felt him selfe that it might plainly appeare how he recouered his strength For when he came to present him selfe before the B. Virgin his Patronesse he was perfect well and well remembring the helpe which he had receiued in the Cittie and likewise in they way he performed his vow with great deuotion wherby the maiestie of Loreto did appeare more then euer at any time before For at the same instant you might haue seene many Cardinalls and Peeres of Rome attending on Pius and many famous Captaines of the warre which came from Ancona to meete the Pope and the high Priest him selfe praying with feruent deuotion before the B. Virgin of Loreto And when Pius had religiously performed his vow he went to Ancona with all that coÌ„pany waiting on him But the delay of the Captaines of the sacred warre was the only hinderance that he receiued no such benefitt as he desired by the vow which he obtained by the intercession of the B. Virgin of Loreto For being more and more impaired with age and feeblenes and fitting at Ancona in all the summer heates expecting the Venetian fleet and other confederates of the warre he began to pine away either ouer-wearied with their delay or els with old age oppressing his feeble body wherwith falling into a gentle and a continuall feuer he was at last consumed and departed to heauen to receiue the reward of his labours of that most worthy endeuour the 66. yeare of that age deseruing worthy remembrance as well for his notable giftes of mind as for his pietie and religion Neither is it to be reckoned amoÌ„g the least of Pius praises that such a man recouering his health by the helpe of the B. Virgin of Loreto and so many Princes and Nations reporting it abroad greatly increased the worthie name and reuerence of the House of Loreto For vntill that time very neere a hundred and sixtie yeares from her comming into Italy the fame of the House of Loreto did not much passe the boundes of Picene so that a certaine obscure or doubtfull rumour therof scarce came into the bordering or into remote Countreys that none may thinke it strange that newes of the transportatioÌ„ of the sacred House from Galiley into Italy had neither pierced to S. Vincent Ferrier in Spaine intangled in the schisme of Auinigon and busied in the religion of Mont-Seratto nor to S. Antoninus nor other Tuscane writers of former times in Tuscane all miserably vexed and diuided with Ciuill warres Which truely was the cause why S. Vincent in a certaine sermon following the ancient report affirmed that the B. Virgins House was then in Galilie and S. Antoninus and other ancient Historiographers of Tuscane made no mention at all of the House of Loreto as ignorant of her memorable translatioÌ„ and comming into Italie Yet Blondus the Historiographer almost equall with the aboue mentioned being the Popes seruant and hauing sufficient knowledge therof left as we shewed before a worthy testimonie of the sacred House of Loreto And of her miraculous transportation therfore peraduenture ancienter Historiographers made no mention at all lest they might seeme to haue reported a vaine and an incredible thing specially seeing so vnusuall a miracle neuer heard of from the beginning of the world was not as yet confirmed by the Popes authoritie But assoone as Pius the Pope readie to dye in the sight of the Cittie and as it were of the whole ChristiaÌ„ world was restored to his health by so euident a miracle at the intercession of our B. Lady of Loreto it so meruailously increased her religion honour that from that time the House of Loreto filled the remotest Countreis with the fame of her name and out of the fardest part of the world inuited Pilgrimes to Loreto where a few yeares before the diuine prouidence had prepared a very conuenient refuge and succour for all The sacred House is endowed with goodly possessions by the Bishop of Recanati for the reliefe of poore Pilgrimes CHAP. XXVII NICOLAS ASTIVS a man famous for sanctimonie and learning Hier. Angel being Bishop of Recanati by reason of his exceeding deuotioÌ„ to the B. Virgin of Loreto Out of the Bull of Iulius the second purposed to augment and maintaine her honour with his vttermost endeuour For a great multitude of poore Pilgrimes resorted daily to Loreto either to performe their vowes or els to gaine the Indulgences whom the treasurie of Loreto verie bountifully relieued for her abilitie bestowing large portions to euery one And lest the fountaine of this benignitie might in time decrease the Bishoppe of Recanati thought good to increase it with the reuenues of certaine landes For hauing many pleasant and fruitfull possessions neere to the House of Loreto he gaue and dedicated them to the B. Virgin mother of God the 58. yeare of that age The Charter of which Donation we thought good to insert in this place that all might not only know the exceeding pietie or Nicolas the Bishop towards the B. Virgin of Loreto but also how much money the House of Loreto bestowed on poore Pilgrimes The liberalitie of the Sacred Hâ—use to the poore when she had no possessions at all And thus it is Nicolas Bishop of Recanati and Macerata obtaining the gouernment of the Church of our B. Ladie of Loreto in the Diocesse of Recanatâ— by dispensation of the Sea Apostolicke and â—onsidering the continuall deuotion and sincere loue which he alwaies had to the aâ—oresâ—id Church of our B. Ladie the great multitude of Pilgrimes and of other people wâ—iâ—â— came thither to perâ—orme their vowes and to gaine the Indulgences and oâ— many feeble and poore men who daily resorted to the said Church of our B. Ladie â—esides the festiuall dâ—ie of the aforesaid most glorious Virgin Marie AND ALSO THE EXCEEDING GREAT ALMES VVHICH CHRISTES POORE RECEIVED OVT OF THE HOVSES OF THE AFORESAID CHVRCH AND NECESSARILIE MVST RECEIVE the rest that followeth Which is so much the certainer for that it was committed to writing by him who by reason of his office and function must needes best know the state of Loreto And the house of Loreto being enriched with these reuenewes increased her liberalitie to the poore in such sort that the fame of this bountie ioyned to her religion propagated the most comfortable name of the House of Loreto farre and neere inuiting the people of all nations to visit the House of Loreto For assoone as the poore Pilgrimes of the remotest countreys Who had beene partakers of that necessary reliefe returned home they did no lesse prayse the liberalitie then the religion of the B. Virgin of Loreto which stirred others to experience that which they heard theÌ„ report And very opportunely a small thing to be spoken of did not alittle increase
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
and pardon of our B. Lady Neither in vaine For his sinne being forgiuen him and taken away by deuotion did also take away the sicknes of the body that the care might demōstrate the cause of the disease Assoone as he recouered he aduertised the Pope of the whole matter and asked his aduise what was best to be done who being well assured that the said euill happened vnto him more through to much confidence in him selfe then the indignation of the B. Virgin tempering his cōmand with godly admonitions persuaded Nerusio that vnder the authority of the Vicar of God and without any feare at all he should go forward with the worke which he had begunne and seriously admonished him to digge through the sacred walls not so much with his hammer and boldnes as armed with fasting and veneration towards the B. Virgin so at last the thing would succeed according to desire For it is not to be feared that the B. Virgin Mother of God will not haue her House to become a through-fare who will haue it open to Pilgrims not only without their danger but also for their good But the Popes authority it self could not inforce Nerusio much frighted allready with the late euill of his presumption to experience that againe which he assayed a little before with so great danger to him selfe At last because the Popes command did vrge and the delay of opening these doores hindred the building of the worke there was a yong man who seemed nothing fearfull to do it who relying on the Popes authoritie and much intreated by his friendes would aduenture the thing He was one of the Cleargie of the Church of Loreto and was called Ventura Perino who arming him selfe with three dayes fast came with his hammer very reuerently to the sacred wall About whome there flocked a multitude of strangers and of the Cleargie these solicitous of the yong mans confidence those in suspence with the expectatiō of the thing But with humble supplicatiō Perino is said to haue spoken thus Sacred House of the B. Virgin pardon Innocencie for I do not digge thee through with this hammer but Clement the Vicar of God desirous of thy ornament he coueteth to haue thee adorned he to haue thee a through-fare Therfore let it please the Mother of God which pleaseth the Vicar of God Hauing prayed thus he digged through the designed place of the wall without any punishment at all And afterward the Masons prepared with like fasting and reuerence followed him iterating his blowes with safetie and opened three dores wherof two giue free entrance and regresse to the people and the third maketh way for the Priestes to the holier part of the sacred Chappell where the Image of the B. Virgin is reuerenced neere at hand At the same time the little window being alone in the fore wall right almost against the Image was made wider to receiue the light and strenghned with brazen barres beautifully guilt And whē the rubbish was taken out the olde dore being to bigge and open in the midst of the sacred wall was also mured vp And then the new walles begā to be raised to be couered and vested with the notable Crust of the carued worke Pope Clement being holpen by the aide of the B. Virgin of Loreto doth adorne her with great care CHAP. XXIIII ABOVT that time Clement vsing all diligence to adorne the House of Loreto eschewed great danger by the protectiō of the B. Virgin Mother of God For the Cittie of Rome being taken by fraud and guile of the enemie he retyred himselfe into the Castle of Adrians Forte where the Imperialls besieging him till he was able to withstand their forces no longer he implored the help of the B. Virgin of Loreto not onely by vow but also by letters Which was to good effect for not long after he escaped from amidst the enemies bullets with safetie being in great want was relieued with three thousand Crownes of the gold and siluer of Loreto Bern. Cyril So that by double benefit of the B. Virgin of Loreto Clement escaped present danger and necessitie and at last dashing the imminent storme of war brought peace and repose to his people Being deliuered from danger of life and from feare of war he thought good not onely to giue thanks to the B. Virgin of Loreto but also as much as lay in mans power to requite it Hauing therfore inuested Charles the V. with the Imperiall Crowne at Bologna and returning backe againe to Rome he came to the House of Loreto to salute his Patronesse and deliueresse and performing his vow to God and the B. Virgin with harty thanks that the grace of so many merits towards him might not be forgotten he resolued with himselfe by all meanes to hasten on the building of Loreto to solicite the Architect masons therunto hauing a speciall desire to bring the Church at least vnto the toppe To dispatch these workes he repayed the money which he receiued in loane frō the B. Virgin wherby in his Popedome both the Bishops Pallace at Loreto was speedily forewarded and also a roofe put on the Church with the admirable thole which is as high from the roofe as the roofe from the groūd Meanewhile it was not Clements least care to finish that worthy Crust of the carued worke which as the beginnings made shew was not vnlikely to be the most curious worke of the whole world Loreto is made more healthfull by cutting downe the woods and drying vp the lakes CHAP. XXV WHILES the House of Loreto was daily more and more adorned with excellent works by cutting downe the woods drying vp the waters neere vnto it the towne it selfe was made more healthfull Bern. Cyril For at that season the aire was generally misliked by reason of the diseases and death of the Inhabitants because for the most part being marish and vnwholsome it caused such distemperature in their bodies that a good part of the yeare the inhabitants were all rhewmatike and full of fleame were weake and diseased and children cheifly were taken away with vntimely death who for the weaknes of their bodies could hardly brooke the vnwholsomnes of the next lake the grosse ayre of the place it selfe And albeit Loreto is seated on a little hill which looketh towards the South the sunne-rising yet on the West and the North being inclosed with wooddy fenns and interposed hills all the wholsome ayre was taken from it and contrary being on the other part open it admitted the vnhealthfull and grossest windes Not far of there was a plaine allwaies foggie by reason of the fennes which came by the ouer-flowing of the riuer Musion and also slymie with the winter fludds which by little and little gathering together for want of motion became noisome You may beleiue that this vnwholsome seate was pleasing to the Mother of God that the wholsomnes of her help might more appeare in an vnhealthful place But at
last newes came to the Pope how in the towne of Loreto many infants and children perishing with the foggie aire before they came to mans estate by little and little the towne it selfe would become desolate if that the inhabitants as they intended departed thence to other places for want of posteritie Therfore thinking it to the glory of the B. Virgin of Loreto to haue the towne most frequented and the place very healthfull by aduise of the Architects he thought it most conuenient to dry vp the lakes adioyning to cut downe the woods to leuell the hills which ouer-looked the Church by the inhabitants called Monte Regal and Montinorum that by taking away the origeÌ„ of the mistes and making the heauens discouerable the cleare and open winde might blowe into the towne with many wholsome blasts to make the place more healthfull Wherupon he wrote to Iohn Antonie a Statis Gouernour of Loreto and to Antonie Sansouino the Architect in manner following Vnderstanding that the aire in those partes but speciallie in the summer-time is very vnhealthfull partlie for that a certaine hill ouerlooking the said Chappell and Church excludeth the vplandish windes healthfull to the place partlie also because in a plaine neere to the said church for fiue miles togeather manie lakes and woods almost allwaies slymie breed much vnhealthfulnes and desiring to make that Church famons throughout the whole worlde for the merits of the most glorious Virgin Marie and the multitude of people resoâ—ing thither healthfull by taking away the asoresaid causes we haue now ordained that the high hill which ouer-looketh the Church shall be plained the lakes dryed vp by ditches the woods cut downe Wherupon the Gouernour of Loreto euen with greater care then he was coÌ„manded beginning so healthfull a worke the 33. yeare of this age speedily hyring a great number of workmen by the Architect and also intreating poore Pilgrims to sett to their helping hands made haste to cutt downe the wood next vnto the towne to draine the lakes by ditches into the riuer running by or into the next part of the sea to leuell the hill that ouerlooked the towne which because it was a long and almost an infinite worke was then rather begunne then finished but that very beginning brought some better health to the inhabitants for the present and also much hope in time to come as the worke proceeded on Pope ClemeÌ„t sendeth 3. of his ChaÌ„ber into Dalmatia Galiley to seeke out the remoueall of the house of Loreto CHAP. XXVI WHEN the dwelling of Loreto was made more healthfull the Historie of the House of Loreto was made more manifest Hierome Angelita a CittizeÌ„ of Recanati an honour to his familie many waies not only for the nobilitie of his pareÌ„tage but also for the integritie of his life Trad. Laur. Annal. Laur. Rier Who at that time dedicated to Clement the Pope the Historie of the B. Virgin of Loreto which him selfe coÌ„posed The cause wherof was this Because about that time as before hath bene said out of the Chronicles of Flumen certaine Dalmatians brought to the Cittizens of Recanati the relation of the transportation of the sacred House from Galiley into Dalmatia and from thence into Picene Therfore either by reading the historie of Angelita or at the request of his friends or rather being mooued by heauenly inspiration Clement had a vehement desire to seeke out the remoouall of the sacred House in Galiley it selfe And albeit he was not ignoraÌ„t that that very thing was made euident inough both by the Dalmatians Frangipane being the authour therof as also by the common consent of Picene at the suite of the CittizeÌ„s of Recanati yet he held it to be the speciall office of the Pope himselfe last of all by speciall men to seeke out the certaintie of so vnusuall and almost so incredible a thing that the authoritie of the Pontificall Sea might confirme other folkes endeuours vtterly to take away all doubt out of the hartes of men if perchaÌ„ce any should remaine Wherupon out of the number of his familie he chose three of his Chamber of approued religion and credit whome he commanded to set forward as soone as he had giuen them notice what they must do and aboundantly furnished them with all things necessarie for them wishing them a happie iourney Who going to Loreto and viewing and measuring the sacred House with diligent care shipped them selues for Sclauonie Assoone as they came thither they found a little ancient house like to that of Loreto famous with the monumentes of miracles on a wall wherof was written that in times past the House of Loreto had beene seated there These thinges the inhabitants them selues did shew them and that they reported no vntruth their true teares trickling downe aboundantly of zeale was no small assurance Wherupon the Legates laying to their measures and finding all things exactly to agree coÌ„tinued on their iourney and ariuing in Galiley came to Nazareth where the inhabitants shewed them the foundations of the sacred House which viewing and measuring round about they found all things to accord Among these Embassadours there was one Iohn N. of Sienna who thinking to confirme the truth of the old miracle with some new signe brought thence two of the stones wherof the houses of Nazareth are commonly built which by his naturall forme is like to slate such as in some places is digged out of quarries easie to be hewed but markt and distinguished with yellow veines And Iohn returning to the House of Loreto with his fellow-Legates compared thoâ—â— stones of Nazareth with the stones of the sacred house and found them to be of the same kind and very like which also did increase the certaintie of the miracle seeing it is euident that no such quarrie of stones is in Picene where all buildings though very ancient for want of stuffe such stones are knowne to be made of bricke Wherfore being very glad of their good successe they made haste to Rome and after long expectation they came at last vnto the Pope related vnto him all that they had found More-ouer Iohn shewed him the stones of Nazareth very like to them of Loreto as witnesses of so great a miracle which was imbraced with exceeding ioy of the Pope with speciall applause of his retinew Three worthie men are deliuered from danger of death CHAP. XXVII ABOVT the same time the House of Loreto was ennobled with most worthie miracles Trad. Laur. Annal. Laur. Rier Iulianus Caesarin ê° is cured of a very daÌ„gerous disease Iulianus Caesarinus one of the Peeres of the Cittie of Rome being brought to the last cast with a grieuous sicknes at Bologna the 33. yeare of this age and being also giuen ouer by the Phisitians perceiued death to be at hand but imploring the helpe of the B. Virgin of Loreto he suddainly recouered therof The same yeare the Vayoud of Transiluania being ouercome and taken in battaile by Abrahim
For I find in the bookes of the House of Loreto that at these times in their supplications almost al the Picene people were wont yearlie to bring manie siluer Crownets to the B. Virgin Cod. Laur. sometimes one sometimes two sometimes three and sometimes no lesse than seuen Many Donaries of diuers kindes either vpon vow or deuotion And because there were now Crownets good store for they amounted to 70. they borrowed thē of the Keepers of the sacred house for which they gaue a reward Also manie Castles townes and Citties of Picene in there supplications presented the siluer purtraicte of their towne whereby at that time of Citties townes and Castles there were Images of siluer to the number of eighteene among which the purtraicte of Firmo of almost twentie pound weight for fashion value did excell And these also the keepers of the sacred house did lend to other people that wanted goldsmiths to be carried in solēne processiō who gaue monie for their lone And either custome towit of Crownets or of Images of this sort hath so preuailed that now it is chiefelie vsed Neither did this godlie vse conteine it self in the bounds of Picene for at the same time the people of Pisaurus sent a siluer purtraicte of their towne of curious workmanship But that the pietie of Citties and Contreys might not be greater then that of Cittizens and moble men Ascanius Columna famous amōg the Peeres of Rome for parentage and wealth brought for a gift to the B. Virgin a siluer Image of S. Rocke of one pound weight and a vestment of cloth of siluer for the priest celebrating with solēnitie The Cardinall of the Foure-Crowned-Martyrs a head of siluer of foure pound weight The Earle Rangonto of Modena and Iohn Francis Bossius of Milan ech of them a siluer thigh of one pound weight Pyrrhus Gonzaga a foote of the same matter and weight Pardus Pappacoda a Neapolitā his own Image of siluer of double weight to the other Alexander Calgagnino his owne Image of siluer engrauen of three pound weight The Marques Tripaldo a siluer lampe of like weight The great Prior of the knights of Rhodes an other lampe of the same substance but in weight some thing greater Vincent Alsano o Perugia his owne Image of siluer of XV. pound weight There were also sixteene Images of siluer presented by others whose names are not knowne of 77. pound weight But much before all the Donaries of this time was the siluer Image of Lewes Gisilardo a Cittizen of Bologna of more than fiftie pound weight Then also was the sacred furniture increased Cardinall Montino who afterward was Pope by the name of Iulius the third presented for a gift a curious vestment for the priest of tissue-cloth of gold Card. Palmerio ornature for the Altar and the priest of cloth of golde The duke of Maestricht vestments of blew veluet adorned with golde for the priest and ministers celebrating with solēnitie Oliuer Fagnano of Milan ornature for the Altar and the priest of the same stuffe The Marques Bitonta a vestment of Damaske with workes of golde And others either brought or sent to the B. Virgin mother of God other ornature for the Altar and the Priests as Crownets of siluer chalices and other such like which to rehearse were long But this praise was not due onelie to men A crownet of golde of one pound weight her owne Image of siluer praying to the B. Virgin of one pound weight and a halfe a siluer foote of one pound weight a Casket of the same substance and weight curiouslie wrought two cruets of golde of fourteene ounces and golden bracelets of antique worke were the giftes of Isabell Cardona the Vice-royes wife of Naples The Marquesse of Guasto a siluer Image of the B. Virgin holding the sweete child Iesus in her lap of foure pound weight And also the Turks sent gifts to our B. Ladie For it is well knowne that the XXIX yeare of this age a Bassa of the Turks his name and the cause is not deliuered sent a siluer suite beset garnished with pearle to adorne the Altar of the B. Virgin of Loreto Clement the VII being Pope that we may vnderstand that the B. Virgin of Loreto is the generall Patronesse of all nations which desire to vse her Patronage THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF LORE TO Collected by the Reuerend F. HORATIVS TVRSELLINVS Of the Societie of IESVS POPE PAVL THE THIRD adorneth the Sacred House with benefittes and Decrees CHA AFTERVVARD Paul the III. succeeded in the Pontificall Sea who in adorning amplifying the state of the House of Loreto contended euen with Clemēt himselfe in the beginning of his Popedome bestowed many Indulgences benefits on the same For thinking it an vnseemly thing that the officers of the sacred House should hardly prouide salte for money for their necessary vses he gaue them yearly twentie sacks of salt out of Ceruia a benefit truly not to be contemned whether you consider the perpetuity of the gift or the necessity of the receiuers or els the mind of the giuer which doth well appeare in the beginning of a certaine Breue which we thought good to annexe VVhen our Predecessour Pope Xystus the fourth of happie memorie among other things of his meere motion had made honour able mētion of the Church of B. Mary of Loreto lōg agone miraculoufly founded in honour of the B. Virgin her selse in which through the meruailous clemencie of God was placed as credible persons haue declared the glorious Image of the B. Virgin accompanied with a multitude of Angells and to the which for the manifold and wonderful miracles which by the merits and intercession of the said glorious Virgin the higehst daily worketh in that place out of diuers euen the remotest parts of the world doth daylie resort a great multitude of people receiuing cure and help by the fauour of the aforesaid glorious Virgin c. And a little after Our Predecessour Pope Iulius the Second of happie memorie considering that in the said Church of Loreto there was not onlie the true Image of the B. Virgin Marie but as it is piouslie belieued and the report goeth the Cell or the Chamber where most B. Marie was conceiued and brought vp and where also she herself conceiued the Sauiour of the world when she was saluted by the Angell c. And he also relateth other things which Iulius the second sett downe in his decrees Loreto is committed to the protection of the people of Recanati CHAP. II. BVT Paul the Pope well knowing how much good there is in a good President had allwaies speciall care to prouide good gouernours for Loreto the greatest gift perchance of all Whereupon making Alexander Argolus Bishop of Terracina Patron of Loreto he notablie ordered and aduanced the state of the sacred 08 seate placed manie learned and graue men in the Colledge of the Chanons performed the Cerimonies of diuine prayer with solemne
and Pontificall pompe and finallie for foure yeares togeather fullfilled his office in all things belonging either to diuine or humane seruice with great praise of religion and benignitie After whome succeeded Gaspar Contareno the Cardinall Card. Contareno Patron of Loreto a man famous for learning and pregnancie of wit and also a verie good Patrone of Loreto but of short cōtinuance by reason of death For whiles he worthilie gouerned the state of Loreto by Galeatius Floremonius who afterward was Bishop of Aquino with great expectation of his vertue he departed this life In whose place the Pope appointed Rodulphus Pius the Cardinall of Carpa Card. of Carpa Patron of Loreto a good Patron and of long continuance who trulie for his worthie pietie would haue gained to himself the surname of Pius though he had not receined it from his ancestours For there was neuer anie more carefull to adorne the sacred house as in the Church of Loreto and in the adioyned houses may well appeare where at this day are extant many and worthie monuments of his This meane while newes of the Turkish war being more and more spread abroad which Selime the Turkish Emperour threatened towardes Italie assoone as he subdued the kingdome of Tunis by Ariadenus Enobarbus Paul the Pope ioyned straight in league with Charles the Christian Emperour and with the Venetians and bent all his care and forces against the Turks first of all intending to prouide for the Church of Loreto but because his treasure was wasted with preparation for the war and scarcity of money hindered his godlie purpose he suffered not an occasion offered by chance to passe vnaccepted For at that time the Embassadours of Recanati came to Rome to the Pope The Embassage of the people of Recanati to Pope Paul the 3. to complaine that Loreto their ancient possession was taken from them by Iulius his Predecessour with great domage but with greater disgrace to their Cittie For who would haue thought that without a grieuous crime the Prince of Bishops and the Vicar of Christ would haue taken from the people of Recanati their most anciēt possessiō of Loreto against their wills for what desert of theirs should so shamefull a spot of infamie be laid on their well deseruing Cittie Whether because from the beginning she carefullie maynteined reuerenced with gists adorned with a Church graced with buildings for almost two hundred and fiftie yeares iustlie and holily gouerned the seate of the B. Virgin of Loreto When at anie time did the Magistrates of Recanati gouerne it with auarice or pride When was the protection of the Church of the Inhabitants or Pilgrims neglected How often haue the waies which were pestered with theeues and the audacitie of way-laiers been repressed And how often also hath the sacred house it self beene defended from hoflilitie with greate forces of armed men Beholde why the people of Recanati should willinglie recount these things For the B. Virgin mother of God transferring her natiue house into Italie chose her self a seate specially in our woode and changing the same three times within sew moneths departed not out of our territories but made three places of our liberties famous with her footsteps We therefore bestowed on her sufficient space for a Church we built the Church and the towne about her and we gaue to the Inhabitants both Magistrates and Lawes VVhich truely are of such importance and auaile so much that they may seeme to possesse that place by good right seeing they were depriued of their ancient possession without triall of their cause But if it may be thought fitt that the Vicar of God should restore to the people of Recanati the gift which God and his B. Mother bestowed vpon them indeed they will do their endeuour that neither the Pope nor they of Loreto shall repent them of the protection and gouernement of the Cittie of Recanati And that both parties may remaine satisfied the people of Recanati will refuse no condition that the most iust Pope shall impose vpon them when Paul had graciouslie heard the Embassadours he followed a certaine meane both to restore to the people of Recanati their right Loreto is restored to the Gouernment of the people of Recanati and notwithstanding to preserue the benefits of former Popes granted in fauour of the House of Loreto Whereupon with these conditions he restored to the Cittizens of Recanati their towne of Loreto exempting onely the Church and the Gouernours iurisdiction ouer townes-folkes and strangers to defend the sacred House of Loreto against the Turkes with a strong garrison to repaire the walles and fortifications as need required to make the wayes secure from theeues in fauour of the Pilgrims that came vp and downe Besides to repay into the Popes treasurie to the vse of the Turkish war eight thousand Crownes which Leo the tenth had spent in fortifying of Loreto So Loreto returned to the Iurisdiction and Gouernment of Recanati the 35. yeare of this age and about 20. yeares after it was made free by Iulius the second But assoone as Paul the Pope saw himself deliuered from the feare of this new war he thought good to enrich the House of Loreto with lands being now well defended with fortifications Whereupon by his command of the Magistrates Duûmuiri of Castro-Ficardo were purchased the woods neere to Loreto with the vineyards meadowes and Oliueries adioyning for which purchase he gaue six thousand Crownes out of his owne treasurie and also purchased other landes neere to the Riuer Musion and gaue them to the B. Virgin of Loreto A Fraternitie of Childrë is instituted to sing solemne praise laude to the B. Virgin of Loreto CHAP. III. AT that time the House of Loreto was not onelie enriched with wealth but also with Ministers For Paul the Pope verie well considering that the praiers of persect puritie were most acceptable to God and his B. Mother instituted a Colledge of twelue children where he appointed that the choicest and wittiest children of all Picene should be instructed to sing seruice with solemnitie in honour of our B. Ladie of Loreto In choosing of whome he commanded that regard should be had to the integritie both of bodie and minde and greate diligence of the best maisters to instruct them Speciall care was vsed that they might incline the most holie Virgin no lesse with the chastitie of their manners then with the sweetnes of their voices Who by the Popes appointment being brought vp and taught in a conuenient place called the Chanonry dayly at certaine houres song hymnes to our B. Ladie in her sacred Chappell beseeching peace and pardon of God and his B. Mother and intreating help and fauour for Italie against the furie of the Turks The Childrens pietie deceiued not the Pope nor the B. Virgin failed not the Childrens prayers For although the discord of the leaders made the nauie of the confederate Princes vnprofitable notwithstāding the B. Virgin herfelf brought peace
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
to the Gouernour of Loreto who at that time was Pompeius Pallanterius But assoone as it was reported abroad that a Priest of the Bishop of Conymbria was come authorized with the Popes Breue to diminish the wall of the most Maiesticall Cell in verie deed the thing seemed verie vnfitting not onelie to the Gouernour and Chanons but also to townes-folkes and strangers no lesse pernicious for the present domage then for future example Whereupon euerie one pronounced that there would be an end of the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin For if once they began to take away the stones of the sacred House in short time not so much as one would be left Notwithstanding because the Popes authoritie did vrge after diuine seruice and a solemne procession the Chanons and the Priests of Loreto assembled themselues into the sacred Cell of the B. Virgin rather to suffer then to do that which was commanded For all resolutelie refusing such a seruice with a fit instrument Stella himself pulled and tooke the stone out of the wall all the keepers of the sacred House saying confidently vnto him that it would be but short ioy vnto his Bishop that the Minister of sacriledge might take that from God and his B. Mother which doubtlesse by the manifest indignation of them both he would shortlie bring back againe It was a Prophesie For these wordes seeming to come from heauen pierced the brest of the audacious man and filled it with anxious cares Whereuppon vncertaine what to do albeit the command of his Bishop did vrge he staied eight whole daies at Loreto and spent all that time in vaine to pacific Almightie God For how could he asswage the heauenly wrath who suffered the cause therof to remaine about him At last on the Calendes of December he began his iourney much troubled in minde with a certaine religious dread sollicitude And coming to Anconae without any inconuenience and holding on his iourney without feare of ill successe he presentlie perceiued that Almightie God did punish him for his rashnesse Because from that time he was alwaies so molested with raine and tempestuous weather yet perseuering still to go whither he intended that euerie moment he escaped many and great dangers of life For most of the waies were almost vnpassable by reason of lakes and streames which hindered him Also furious waters encountering threatened him destruction Likewise the horse on which he rode being not able to stand fell downe and he himself tumbling after was so moiled in the lakes that he was enforced to change his horses but he had no better successe with any And thus diuers accidents hindering his vnluckie iourney he came at length to Trent in the end of the moneth of December hauing passed many inconueniences and dangers and deliuered the sacred stone vnto the Bishop telling him how deerlie he had bought it But the Bishop being made nothing more circumspect therby hauing space strangelie giuen him to repent nor willing to learne by an others perill was taught by his owne For about the end of Februarie inclosing the sacred stone in a siluer case and preparing to send it into Portugall he was suddainlie taken with an extreme burning feuer and began to be miserablie anguished and molested therwith which brought with it a more grieuous and cruell disease to witt most bitter paine of the groine which permitted him to take no rest at all Forthwith Phisitians are set aworke who applying all things in vaine because his sicknes comming to him as a punishment from God the cure therof might verie well surpasse their skill they constantlie pronounced that the force and cause of his griefe seemed not to them any humane thing Therefore it was best for him to consider whether peraduenture Almighty God might not inflict that horrible punishment vpon him for offending him And so fearing vnfortunate euent of the cure they departed despairing of his recouerie Wheruppon the Bishop was verie sollicitous and much perplexed in himself whether for any secret offence Alm. God had inflicted such horrible punishment on him And being thus forsaken of the Physitians he began to be tormented more in minde then in bodie to looke diligentlie into himself And because he was troubled with a scruple about the stone which he procured from Loreto he ceased not to mitigate the wrath of God by all the meanes he could and with sighes and feruent praier to aske pardon of the B. Virgin of Loreto if perchance he had offended by violating her sacred House and to confesse that he was ready to cōdescend to all to make satisfactiō His praier was not vnheard assoone as in some sort he acknowledged and detested his fault For within a while he seemed to heare a silent voice as it were from heauen commanding him to restore the stone which he had taken from the B. Virgin of Loreto But fearing leste it might be the vaine immagination of a weake minde both because he had gotten it by the Popes authoritie and also for that he would not defraud Portugall of so great a good now obtained for her he remayned doubtfull what to do In this meane while some weekes were spent Wheruppon by commandement of his Lord at last Stella carefully recommended the Bishop verie dangerously sicke to two holy monasteries of sacred Virgins in the Cittie of Trent And within two dayes one of the chiefe of either Monasterie brought answere if that the Bishop would be cured he must restore that which he had taken from the B. Virgin of Loreto when Stella heard what they said he was amazed admiring how Virgins shutt vp in their Cloisters could know of the stone of Loreto which truly at Trent besides himself the Bishop none knew because he commanded the thing to be concealed with all care Not doubting therefore but that the whole matter was shewed vnto them by a heauenlie signe he tolde his Lord what he had heard Whereat the Bishop remained like one astonished and wounded with remorse gaue many sighes And by and by with his elbow lifting himself vp vpon the bed where he lay and holding vp both hands eyes to heauen with trickling teares he ernestly intreated pardon of the Mother of God That the mercifull Mother would vouchsafe to pardon his pious errour that she would forgiue him acknowledging his fault For he would keepe nothing of the House of Loreto against her will he was resolued determined forthwith to restore that which he had receiued thence and mistrusted not but to recouer health by her meanes assoone as he had restored the sacred stone vnto her that she would therfore help him who had giuen him this hope He failed not in his promise nor the B. Virgin his hope For presently Suarez commanded Stella himself who brought it to recarry it backe to Loreto with all the speed he could Neither in vaine For he was scarce gone out of the gate of the Citty on a horse of good speed but 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
Townes and Villages came in seuerall Companies to Loreto bringing to our B. Lady siluer Crownets great torches of wax couered with siluer and golden coine sacred vestments Chalices other gifts And the order and ornature of them that came with this solemnity betokened great piety and religion For the holy Sodalities themselues were graced with seuerall Companies Ensignes and euerie company adorned their Society not onely with notable Crosses glittering with gold and siluer but also with curious Banners with Images of Angells Saintes Likewise in all the said Companies there were some that went barefooted others that with disciplines did beat their naked and bloudy backs others that song deuout hymnes and praiers to God and our B. Lady with great solemnity But among all the Sodalities of Picene did excell who represented the sacred Histories both of ancient and later times by speciall persons orderly placed here there amongst them and with great grace of the Actors shewed most gratefull spectacles to heauen and earth in the Cloister of the Church of Loreto There is a towne in Picene of no small reputation and fame which hath chosen S. Genesius of a stage-plaier a Martyr for her Patron whose name she beareth Who with godly zeale and religious emulation imitating the ancient praise of her Patron deserued the chiefest commendation for holie spectacles sacred pompe of all the Sodalities that came to the House of Loreto For about a thousand people of this towne besides women and the disordered multitude comming to the sacred House of Loreto with singular deuotion were as it were a wonder to them that met them Their solemnity was this Many went before in the habit of Penitents carrying the figures of the torments and death of Christ our Lord who attiring themselues in sackcloath went in a long and a well disposed companie sprinckling their heades with ashes barefooted and beating their backs with continuall stripes After whome followed three most adorned Sodalities garnished with diuers liueries and colours and euerie company was graced with Crosses and Banners which glittered with gold siluer All the Companies a like did shine with the burning torches of their fellowes sounded far neere with worthy Quires of musicke Next went as it were three Bands of men The first carried the ancient figures and mysteries of the sacred Historie which they represented Annal. Laur. Rier the other worthie documēts of vertue out of the Gospell Ecclesiasticall Histories the third the glorie of the Martyrs of the militāt Church the noble victories which they got of their persecutours The Image of the persons thing represented were expressed so liuely that they seemed not to be shewed but to be donne and acted so in very deed that you would thinke that those spectacles had not beene fained for the present but that they had beene true indeed and donne in their very times A pageant of the triumphant Church set forth with Ensignes and ornaments of euery kind and with meruailous variety of the things and persons represented did conclude the last Companie Christ our Sauiour rising from death to life was represented with great Maiesty in a triumphall Chariot who sitting ouer the globe of the world shyned on euery side with glorious brightnes and lifting vp his right hand seemed to blesse the people that met him About whome little children with instruments representing the countenances of Angells delighted all with their most sweet and pleasant melody And a great multitude of Martyrs and Saints of euery order and kind of men of women of Virgins followed the Chariot in Crownes of glorie and with Ensignes of victory inuiting the multitude of the beholders to the like glorie by their happy example Truly all the action was not only a spectacle but a great instigation to piety and deuotion The notable piety of Don Iohn de Austria in visiting the House of Loreto CHAP. XXIIII Annal. Laur. Rier THE House of Loreto was not more reuerenced with these spectacles of the people than with the presence of Princes Don Iohn de Austria a man most worthily deseruing so noble a Father as Charles the Emperour though not more famous by his Fathers glory than his owne vertue by reason of a vow came this yeare to visit the House of Loreto The piety and deuotiō of Don Iohn de Austria his gifts who fiue yeares before being to fight against the Turkes in a battaile by sea had made a vow to the B. Virgin to visit her sacred House if he were liuing when the victory was gotten of the Barbarians But hauing obtained this vow publicke affaires one after an other hindered him that vntill this time he could not performe his promise Now therfore being at Naples with a little more quietnes and freedome of minde neither the horrour of the sharp winter nor the care of publicke and priuate busines nor the intreaty of the Nobility and people could make him to giue ouer this iourney to the House of Loreto in the depth of winter whē the waies were couered with ice snow and riuers for the most part ouerflowen And foule tempestuous weather made the piety of the good Prince more notable For passing on horsbacke by the Port of Recanati and beholding the House of Loreto a far of with great deuotion he put of his hat to salute and reuerence the B. Virgin Mother of God and setting aside all care towards himself he turned it to the veneration of the heauenly Queene For neither the raine nor the sharpnes of the weather could once moue him to couer his head so greatly had he deuoted himself and his head to the B. Virgin by whose protection as he belieued he was preserued aliue and well Assoone as he came to the sacred House he washed away all the sinnes of his former life by Confession gaue manifold thankes to our B. Lady offering a great summe of money when he performed his vow both by word and example stirred his companions to like deuotion And after he had dutifully performed this vow he returned to Naples carryng with him great loue and affection to the B. Virgin of Loreto The singular pietie and munificence of Ioane de Austria the great Duchesse of Tuscanie CHAP. XXV AT that time most Noble Womē did not yield to Princes in piety deuotion towards the B. Virgin of Loreto Foure yeares before for it behooueth him that followeth the course of things persons some times to neglect the order of the times in the entrance and beginning of the Popedome of Gregory the xiij Ioane de Austria the daughter of Ferdinād the Emperour and wife of Francis the Great Duke of Tuscany came to Loreto intending to satisfy her lōg desire of seeing the B. Virgin Wheruppō by the Popes cōmandement she was receiued with Princely intertainmēt in all his Dominions by Paul Odescalco Bishop of Atria and Pena who for that purpose was sent from the Citty
of Lasturo a Village of the State of Venice lay sicke not far from Bergamo of an incurable disease and the anguish of his infirmity wherwith he was most miserably vexed brought with it cruell and almost perpetuall paine in all his members Therfore despayring of help by Physitians he inuocated the B. Virgin of Loreto giuing himself wholy vnto her by vow which if he obtayned he promised to performe with all speed His vow had effect Being giuen ouer by the Physitians he did not so much wrestle with the disease as with death it self But suddainly in the very agony he had present help For our B. Lady as it were vnlooked for appearing vnto him in the same shape wherein she is reuerenced at Loreto which before that time he neuer saw so much as in picture and bidding him be of good comfort replenished him with great ioy and comfort Wheruppon out of hand for deuotion sake the sicke man endeuoured to kneele downe on his bed as well as he could and with great confidence in this exceeding dāger of death began to implore the assistance of the Mother of God And she with a meeke a motherly countenance said vnto him Sonne put away feare thou shalt not dy of this sicknes be thankfull mindfull of thy Vow For which cause calling to his houshold that they might hasten thither to reuerence the Queene of Heauen with due deuotion our B. Lady went suddainly out of his sight And the promise was performed on both sides For the sicke man recouering a litle after came to Loreto to performe his vow the 90. yeare of this age where leasurely viewing the Image of the Mother of God he affirmed to those to whome he related this miracle that the B. Virgin appeared vnto him in his sleep in that very forme attire that you may thinke that shape and habit was pleasing to our B. Lady A Knight of Flanders being deliuered from his enemies by an euident miracle dedicateth a wax-candle of huge bignesse to our B. Lady of Loreto CHAP. XVII Vict. Brig ABOVT the same time a Knight of Flanders presented to the B. Virgin of Loreto For a gift a votiue candle of huge bignes to wit of 300. pound weight in token of a miracle almost incredible The cause of his vow gift was this The said Knight his name is not set downe for he himself would haue it concealed escaped manifest perill of life in Flanders by help of our B. Lady who by commandment of the Prince of Parma going on improuidently with eight horsemen to view the coast fell into the ambush of the enemy The enemies were about eight hundred some horsmen some footemen who quickly spreading themselues abroad tooke from thē all hope of escape Notwithstanding the Fleming wanted not courage For inuocating our B. Lady of Loreto and animating his fellowes therūto they valiantly fought with them their confidence in the B. Virgin preuailing so much with them that it easily put away the cogitation of so great danger Such was the courage and strength which was giuen to that small company by the vertue of the heauenly help which they besought not failing them in their fight For when on euery side they were assaulted with so many handes and weapons of sundry sortes by the protection of the Mother of God they sustayned the violence of their enemies the multitude of their weapons so long till the Spanish forces came to rescue them and then the danger turned on their enemies themselues wherof many were slayne or taken And that there may be no doubt at all of the vertue of the heauenly help neither the Knight himself nor any of his fellowes nor yet any of their horses were hurt the least iote in so cruell a fight which held for the space of two houres that you may thinke they fought vnder the protection of God who fighting for them made them to ouercome In regard wherof the Knight desiring to haue a perpetuall monument of so worthy a miracle to remayne at Loreto sent the wax-candle of huge bignes wherof I haue spoken with intent that on certaine festiuall daies it should burne before the Maiesticall House of the B. Virgin And it is said that he also gaue a certaine stipend that when the same was consumed an other candle of like bignes should be put in his place for euerlasting memory to posterity A deafe-man recouereth his hearing CHAP. XVIII THIS which I am to relate is not so meruailous Annal. Laur. Rier Vict. Brig but better witnessed Erasmus Deane of the Cathedrall Church of Cracouia in Polonia being deafe in either eare heard almost nothing at all so that they must deale with him not so much by wordes as by signes But before his hearing was taken from him by report he had heard many admirable things of the B. Virgin of Loreto and seeing he could get no help by means of physicke and that the heauenly vertue of the House of Loreto came often to his mind much grieued and perplexed with the infirmity it stirred him to come to the sacred House of our B. Lady that with great confidence he might say Masse in the most Maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin and implore her help where he found most present remedy for his griefe For assoone as he had ended Masse he perceiued that his left eare was opened and cured and the next day saying Masse in the same place he likewise recouered the vse of his right Whereby he who came to the most sacred House halfe deafe or rather deafe indeed within two dayes departed thence full glad to haue recouered the perfect vse of hearing Andrevv Bētiuoglio Gouernour of Loreto He himself told the whole matter with teares of ioy to Rutilius Benzonius the Bishop to Andrew Bentiuoglio Gouernour of Loreto on the Nones of Aprill the yeare of our Redemption 1590. At which time the new Citty of Loreto being built with great speed on the inlarged space was suddainly interrupted by the vntimely death of Xystus assaied also by other Popes to small purpose For Monte-Regal was pared about and left half plained the new Houses which were crected without the old circuite be now insteed of Suburbs wherof many remayne vnfinished that you may thinke the renowme of a Citty was not pleasing to our B. Lady of Loreto who chose her self a seate in a desert place lest the fame of the Citty rather then the Religion of the place should inuite the Pilgrims to visit her About that time Andrew Bentiuoglio departing this life Fuluius Paulucius Gouernour of Loreto Fuluius Paulucius the Protonotary Apostolicall succeeded in the Gouernement of Loreto whose vertue troublesome times did both exercise and illustrate Donaries brought or sent to the B. Virgin of Loreto in the troublesome time of Gregory the XIIII CHAP. XIX SHORTLIE after in the same yeare of our Redemption to witt 1590. in the moneth of September Vrbane the vij was created Pope who
place from whence he had taken it long agoe Assoone as it was restored he recouered his former health The thing is well witnessed Iohn Baptista Carminata Superiour of the Society of IESVS in the Prouince of Sicily sent the sacred stone with letters declaring the whole matter to Rome to Cardinall Vastauillano Patron of Loreto who sent it straight to Leonorius Gouernour of Loreto with the letter which he receiued out of Sicily commāding that it should be carefully put into the place where it was before Wheruppon assoone as it came to Loreto Leonorius commanding a solemne procession and going to the gate to meet it recarried it to the most sacred House with the greatest pompe that might be A meruailous thing to be spoken and seene It was scant brought vnto the fortunate House of our B. Lady when by and by as if God had shewed it the voide place appeared whence it was euident that fragment was taken twenty yeares agone and assoone as it was put into his owne place againe a remembrance was made in token of the miracle to represse the boldnes of other Pilgrims About the same time the new rashnes of mortall men gaue God occasion to shew new example in the lesser peeces of stones I finde many exāples of many who aduēturing the same quickly smarted for their folly vntill they had learned by their owne harme to restore that which they had takē frō thence But we will omit them lest many things of one kind should breed tediousnes Neither did Almighty God seeme to be more carefull to preserue the sacred stones thā the morter wherwith the stones themselues are ioyned togeather Alexandria is no meane Citty of Lombardy built and so called by the Confederate Citties in fauour of Pope Alexander the third A Cittizē of which place comming to visit the House of Loreto stole a litle morter out of the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin and returning home bruized it and put it into a siluer case togeather with an AGNVS DEI. But his foolish piety was nothing pleasing to God and his B. Mother For assoone as he hung that case about his wiues necke for what cause it is vncertaine the Prince of Diuells entred into her with no small company of his attendants wherwith the vnhappy womā being miserably vexed for the space of nine yeares to her husbands great griefe at last God of his goodnes sent her remedy Iohn Baptista Vauninus a Priest of the Society of IESVS preached at that time to the people of Alexandria as the manner is Who vnderstanding of the matter by her husbād the author of so wicked a thing forthwith exhorted him to restore the sacred dust if he did no doubt but in short time his wife would be deliuered from diuells wherewith she was tormented He was easily persuaded For taking the sacred morter out of the siluer case he himself deliuered it to Vauninus beseeching him to send it to Loreto with all speed Their hope deceiued them not For within few daies three of the tormenting diuells were expelled out of the body of the possessed woman not so much by vertue of the Exorcismes as by the praier of our B. Lady Wheruppon Vauninus putting the said morter into a case sent it presently to Loreto to the Rector of the Society of IESVS intreating him by letter with all speed to restore it to the sacred House of our B. Lady whence it was taken and to intreate peace and pardon of the B. Virgin for that miserable woman that by expelling the rest of the tormēting diuells she would vouchsafe to restore vnto her her former health which afterward was found to haue happened as he desired And assoone as the morter was brought backe to Loreto it was reserued in a conuenient place to be a document to mortall men not to aduenture the like Also the letter of Vauninus dated on the third of the Ides of Nouember the yeare of our Redemption 1579. is preserued likewise there in token of the miracle A ship of Epidaurus is deliuered out of the hands of Pirats by a worthy Miracle CHAP. IX WITH a notable and a famous Miracle we will conclude the most worthy and most illustrious Popedome of Gregory About that time a shippe of Epidaurus being laden with rich merchandize of Constantinople returned to Epidaurus by the Commonalty called Ragusa Which in the mid-way suddainly sustained such quietnes and calme of sea that for want of wind she could not mooue out of the place Wherby many sculking Pirats were presently at hand who spreading round about began to assault the destitute ship withall their force And albeit the Christiās were fewer in number yet at first they notably withstood the assault of the Barbarians but at last being ouercome with labour and woundes they failed as equall vnto them neither in courage nor strength Wheruppon being in great danger of taking by the Barbarians and deuoutly calling to mind the manifold fauours of our B Lady of Loreto all called on her with humble supplication and vowed if she deliuered them out of that imminent danger they would carry a goodly Chalice to the House of Loreto for a gift and withall would there wash away the blemishes of their sinnes by sacred Confession Their praier and vow proued not in vaine For by by a thicke mist arising so obscured the light with her darknes that it tooke from the Pirats greedily desiring so wealthy a prey the sight of the ship of Epidaurus For which cause the Christians acknowledged the help of the Mother of God and exulting with ioy amidst their feare gaue deuout thankes to God and his B. Mother Contrarily the Barbarians raging and grieuing to see the prey taken out of their handes endeuoured what they could to recouer the ship which they had lost But in vaine For a certaine night as it were hanging ouer the sea tooke from thē the sight of the vessell which they pursued they thēselues wandred euen as men in darknes Meanwhile a prosperous winde blowing in the cloud carried the ship along which escaping all danger by fauour of our B. Lady arriued safe at Epidaurus whence the Marriners and Passengers came to Loreto to performe their vow And this was almost all that happened at Loreto whiles Gregory was Pope Loreto is made a Citty by Xistus V. and adorned with a Bishops Sea CHAP. X. AS Xystus V. the emulator of Gregory would not seeme his inferiour in other things so would he be accounted more forward and diligent in augmenting the state of the House of Loreto For being borne in Picene he thought good to adorne the chiefe Patronesse of the Picentians with all care Therfore as it were to execute the determination of Pope Marcellus the secōd he gaue Loreto the title of a Citty adorning her with a Bishops Sea assigning certaine townes there about to her Iurisdiction The first Bishop of Loreto was Francis Cantucius a Cittizen of Perugia famous for learning and sanctimony