diamond and Carbuncle Gregory the xiij being Pope Also after his Embassage to Rodulph the Emperour Cardinall Madruzzo presented to the B. Virgin of Loreto for a gift The gift of Cardinall Madruzzo a siluer Crosse being the ensigne of such Legates in token of his Legacie happily performed by her protection and help The piety and gifts of the Princes of Italy CHAP. VII AT that time the piety and liberality of the Nobility of Italy was very notable Vict Brigant Iohn Piccolhomini sent a siluer plate representing two mules carrying a horslitter The gift of Iohn Picolhomini and of many others wherof the one doth strike with his heeles a man lying on the ground no doubtfull argument of danger eschewed by the help of the B. Virgin of Loreto Iohn Baptista Duara Gonzaga siluer fetters insteed of the yron-ones wherwith he was fettered in token that he got his liberty by the fauour of our B. Lady of Loreto Lewis Martinengo of Bressa foure Chalices of siluer guilt The Marquesse of Est her owne and the Image of her sonne praying to our B. Lady in plate of siluer of 14. pound weight The Duke of Atria two Images of Angells of a Cubit and a half of excellent worke of xxxvj pound weight which are placed before the B. Virgin on the Altar and present continually burning lights which the inscription engrauen in the base doth shew to be votiue gifts The Duke of Terra-Noua a siluer lampe hanging of xxij pound very notable both for workmanship and weight Emanuell Philibertus Duke of Sauoy his owne Image adorned with a Crowne and a scepter made all of pure gold in manner of a suppliant of ten pound weight Cardinall Columna the Legate of Picene a siluer Cuppe of excellent worke of no small weight Cardinall Arigonio a golden Chalice of great price by reason of iewells and pearls a Chrystall Crosse with the Image of Christ of gold and foure siluer Candlesticks of great beauty Cardinall Riario ornature of damaske for the Altar and the Priest Augustine Cusano who afterward was admitted into the Colledge of the Cardinalls furniture for the Priest and the Altar of gold and siluer And Pope Gregory himself much reioycing that the sacred House of Loreto was thus reuerenced and adorned with gifts desired to haue a speciall gift of his owne to remaine there for euer The fourth Sunday of Lent called Dominica Laetare of the Introite of the Masse of an ancient solemne custome the Romā Bishops do consecrate a golden Rose The stemme or plant wherof is of flourishing roses of gold which being put into a golden Cuppe standing on a triple foote of gold is more thē a Cubit half in height said to be worth a thousand Crownes And this Pontificall gift wont for the most part to be presented to Queenes Gregory sent to the B. Virgin of Loreto as Queene of Heauen and earth And in the midle of the Cuppe there is a godly inscription for a remembrance of him that gaue it About the same time Nicolas Caietan the Cardinall of Sermoneta honoured the House of Loreto with a new kind of gift who either for the generall deuotion of his family for he was of the House of Boniface the eight whose Popedome the comming of the most sacred Cell into Italy made very famous or els of a certaine priuate affection was wholy deuoted to the B. Virgin of Loreto For being well and in good heath he chose a place for his sepulcher in the Church of Loreto not far from the Cell of the Mother of God and caused it to be beautified with magnificent worke The forme wherof is very notable and large adorned with sundry sorts of marble and graced with a brazen Image of Nicolas the Cardinall of great curiosity and beauty The marble stone vnderneath hath this Epitaph NICOLAS CAIETAN THE CARDINALL OF SERMONETA OF THE FAMILIE OF POPE BONIFACIVS THE 8. CALLING TO MIND THAT THIS MOST SACRED HOVSE VVAS SEATED HEERE BY THE HAND-VVORKE OF GOD ABOVT THE TIME THAT HE ENTRED INTO HIS POPEDOME AND THAT HIMSELF HATH OBTAINED MANY THINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD BY THE PRAIER OF THE B. VIRGIN THE MOTHER OF GOD AND ALSO HOPING THAT HER HELP VVIL NOT FAILE HIM AT HIS DEATH ALIVVE AND IN GOOD HEALTH HATH PROCVRED THIS MONVMENT OF MARBLE TO BE MADE FOR HIM THAT HIS BODY MAY BE BVRIED IN IT VVHEN HE SHAL DEPART THIS MORTALL LIFE BEING NOVV 54. YEARES OF AGE HE DIED ALMOST AT THREESCORE THE YEARE OF OVR SALVATION M.D.LXXXV IN THE MONETH OF MAY. And Nicolas departing this life was brought from Rome to Loreto where his funeralls were made with great honour and solemnity and the Sepulcher being finished long agoe his body was laid into it and a stone put ouer it with this title HEERE I VVIL DVVELL BECAVSE I HAVE CHOSEN IT At this day in the Church of Loreto there is a great Hearse of cloth of gold bordered about with a great border of black Veluet in some places magnificently adorned with the armes of the Caietan family and in other with golden Crosses in token of his stately funeralls The rashnesse of those which tooke away small peeces of the stones and the morter of the most sacred House is punished from heauen CHAP. VIII THE same yeare to wit 1585. by a new Miracle Almighty God shewed what care he hath of the sacred House of Loreto For a particle of one of the sacred stones was brought backe out of Sicily long after the fault was committed and punishmēt suffered therfore Aboue twenty yeares a Cittizen of Palermo comming to Loreto secretly taking a litle stone out of the sacred Cell of the Mother of God by no shew of piety in that rash deed nor the ignorance of the Pontificall inhibition by any meanes could be deliuered from the wrath of God For assoone as he returned home forthwith he was troubled with a grieuous sicknes And lest the cause of his suddaine griefe might be doubtfull yearly about the same time that he committed the fault he suffered punishment for it Wheruppon strēgth suddainly fayling him in the moneth of September or October he was molested with a grieuous feuer and by iudgment of the Physitians there could be no naturall cause therof and he acknowledged not his fault coloured vnder the name of piety But it continued 20. yeares all which time there was neither cause nor end of his incurable disease And at last when no other cause of the sicknes still returning by course could be found Religion entred into his heauy mind being much tormented with a guilty conscience he opened the wound vnto a Priest who told him that the cause of his sicknes was his rash piety earnestly exhorting him to restore the sacred stone if he would make sure way for his health It was spoken to no deafe eares For the sicke man being commanded as it were by a heauēly voice deliuered him the sacred stone to be sent backe to the
war our B. Lady of Loreto had obtained for him the helpe which he desired he began to adorne her House to the vttermost of his abilitie And first of all he thought good to impresse the ancient report of the sacred house more deeply in the hartes of mortall men with Pontificall authoritie as a thing most effectuall to increase the religion of the place it selfe Therfore in the beginning of his first Breue The Bull testimonie of Iulius the 2. recounting the Decrees of his predecessours very honourable to the house of Loreto of Vrbane the 6. of Bonifacius the 9. and Martin the 5. then relating the cause of so great deuotion to the House of Loreto he saith that it is the Chamber of our B. Lady as it is piously belieued and the report goeth where she was coÌ„ceiued where she was brought vp where by the salutatioÌ„ of the Angell she conceiued and nourished Christ which House since that time being consecrated by the Apostles first by miracle departed out of Nazareth then out of the wood infested with theeues into the hill of the two brothers from thence by reason of the brothers discord into the hill where at this present it standeth And afterward declaring that he was bound to adorne the House of Loreto with no lesse care then Paul the second or Xistus the fourth whose worthy benefits towards the same were well knowne to all he confirmeth their gifts and immunities rceiuing the House of Loreto into the protection of the Sea Apostolike The benefits of Iulius the 2. calleth it the Popes Chappell coÌ„manding that diuine seruice should be celebrated there with folemne rites in like manner as in the Popes Chappell at Rome He also priuiledged all the Ministers of the Church of Loreto to be of the Popes familie and retinue with as much prerogatiue as the best and ordained a Gouernour ouer Loreto to be chosen by the Pope himselfe to whome he gaue mixt authoritie From which time the towne of Loreto The tovvne of Loreto is exempted from the iurisdietioÌ„ of other Citties being exempted out of the Iurisdiction of Recanati began to be free of it selfe Moreouer he gaue coÌ„mandment that â—â—ey which brought prouision of victualls or other vendible thinges to Loreto should be freed of portage and tole And straitly ordained that none should pilfer neither the Donaries nor the money which was offered to our B. Lady of Loreto vnder the paine of excommunication Latae Sententiae For about that time I find that the sacred House was enriched not only with money but also with giftes George Monachus of Padua The gift of George Monachus brought for a gift a siluer Image of our B. Lady of Loreto of fiue pound weight Cardinall Tranensis an other of the same substance forme but of double weight And others brought other Donaries not needfull to be rehearsed A noble woman is cured of the Palsey CHAP. X. THIS time was also memorable for miracles whereof that was the chiefest which fell in the yeare 1508. The king of Naples had a certaine person of his Councell called LoÌ„gus Bern. Cyril famous for manie notable thinges whose wife being a womaÌ„ of great accompt also called Longa by the surname of her husband was so taken in all her bodie and tormented with such bitter paine that she lead a most miserable life more like to death then life who at last reiecting the help of Physitians intreated her husband that she might be carried to Loreto When she came thither she requested her sonne-in-law who accompanied her in that iourney to procure a certaine Masse to be said in the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin agreeable to her purpose the beginning wherof is Repleatur os meum laude Let my mouth be filled with praise in which is recited the gospell of the palseymaÌ„ whome Christ our Sauiour did cure which being assigned for the friday in WhitsoÌ„ week was not the proper of that time seing that day was past long since but Longa desired that votiue Masse She had scarce giuen this coÌ„mandment to her sonne-in-law when she her self her sonne-in-law atteÌ„ding on her was brought into the most sacred nouse presented before the B. Virgin not doubting but that our B. Ladies prayers would be profitable vnto her Behould before her sonne-in-law could fullsill his mother-in-lawes commaÌ„d a strange Priest came to the Altar who beginning diuine seruice with this Introite Let my mouth be silled with praise stroke her into so great admiration that she remained a while dismayed therwith But presentlie turning to her soÌ„ne-in-law who was not yet gone to procure that Masse but now prepared to go stay said she it is booteles for thee to go for this is the verie Masse which I desired And when it was come to that place of the gospell He said to the sicke of the palsey I say to thee arise a woÌ„derfull thing to be spoken and seene the Palsey womaÌ„ perceiuing that by a certaine supernaturall grace her bodie was suddainlie cured her soule replenished with vnwonted sweetnes arose presentlie out of her chaire with greatioy leauing all amazed at the strangnes of the thing with flowing teares of â—oy made no end of thankes giuing to the B. Virgin And when Masse was donne went on foote to her lodging to the greate astonishment of all her acquaintance who were present at the miracle of so great a thing At which time the Duke of Termero being by chance at Loreto with a chiefe company of horse-men to go to the war of Lombardie as Iulius the second had appointed knowing LoÌ„ga her incurable disease verie well and also seeing her go on her feete was first amazed at the noueltie of the thing but presentlie being moued with so euident a miracle he ioyned with her in praysing Almightie God And eftsoones a new wonder made the miracle it selfe most euident For the Priest who had said Masse to Longa being long and much sought for was not to be found that you may belieue he was sent by miracle to be the minister of the heauenly worke And Longa hauing obtained her vow returned to Naples purposing to consecrate to Alm. God her health restored vnto her by miracle Wherupon building a Monasterie of sacred Virgins at Naples she betooke herselfe to the seruice of incurable diseases whiles Raymund Cardona was Vice-roy of Naples Pope Iulius the second finisheth and fortifieth the Church of Loreto CHAP. XI MOREOVER Iulius granted many other benefits to the former which are declared and set downe in a long Breue not needfull to be rehearsed And wheÌ„ he had graced the house of Loreto with these immunities he was very careâ—ull to fortifie the same Therfore begining the workes of peace with no lesse courage theÌ„ he waged his huge and troublesome war he prepared not to build vp but also to fortifie the Church of Loreto which Paul the 2. had begunne the finishing wherof was hindered by
intreat and importune Sabine her father to bring her to that house which shined with so many lightes for otherwise she could not describe the place where that most beautifull Virgin dwelt The father iested at his daughters request either thinking it to be a childish toy or els ignorant what place she described but not long after it happened that Sabine with his familie pilgrimaging to Loreto Alexandra straight acknowledged the place triumphed and exulted for ioy turning to her father Behold father said she this is the house whither that most beautifull Virgin cloathed in white brought me hither I desired to returne and this is the sight that I was so willing to enioy againe Wherat the father was amazed but pondering in his mind the exceeding deuotion of his daughter to the mother of God he perceyued that she was deare to the B. Virgin her selfe specially seeing the mother of God drew her vnto her from her tender yeares by a certaine vnwonted course For which cause he neither foreslowed to further the pietie of his daughter nor thought good for him to coÌ„ceale this wonder And Alexandra her selfe when she came to riper yeares tould it often to godlie men who afterward related it to others to me my selfe This miracle happened the 7. yeare of this age neither in vaine For Alexandra being trained in this Nouiceship liued alwayes a Virgin and lead a most holy life vntill she was 90. yeares of age euery yeare reuisiting the B. Virgin of Loreto And so great was the fame of her sanctimonie that she was made Abbesse of a Monasterie of Virgins in the towne Montabodo where she flourished not onely with vertues but also with miracles Neere to the Porch of the Church of Loreto the Popes Pallace is begunne by Iulius the II. and the caruing of the most sacred House is purposed CHAP. XIIII IVLIVS vsing all diligence to finish and adorne the House of Loreto was easily induced to greater expences For when the most sacred Chappell was fenced with the walles of the Church he thought good to ad a fortification to the towne it selfe against the assault and suddaine incursions of the enemie Hierome Roboreo Patron of Loreto of worthy memorie who vndertooke that worke lately departed this life hauing scarce laid the first fouÌ„dations therof Therfore Iulius the Pope prosecuting those worthy beginnings by meanes o the said Bramant whom we mentioned before began the Popes Pallace neere to the Church being a great and a magnificent worke cheefly designed for the intertainement of noble men The forme whereof is such That part of the Pallace where the entrance is into the square Court being right against the Church doth compasse it with two wings as it were with armes The foure angles haue as manie turrets All the whole worke doth beare the true forme of a square Castle hauing the Church for a fortresse And at this day with the continuall labour and expeÌ„ces of many yeares the one halfe therof is hardly finished Nether did Iulius Hier. Ang. Bern. Cyril whiles the Popes Pallace was in hand desist to adorne the Church it selfe A Quire for the singers made for the ornament of the place the excellent Organs of musicke set forth with statelie worke and gold two bells notable for bignes and forme and the foundations of the Bellfray were the worthy workes of Iulius the second When he had adorned the Church he prepared costly marble inough to garnish the most maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin on the outside which doubtles had bene the greatest of all his workes if speedie death had not euen then preuented his designments Almightie God reseruing that excellent praise to another And it is not to be esteemed the least which in this kind was the last of his mortall workes The gift of Antonie Perotto Peter Antonie Perotto Generall of the Siluestrines bearing great affection deuotion to our B. Lady of Loreto gaue the Abbey of S. Laurence neere to Loreto to wit in the territorie of Castro Ficardo with all the villages houses meadowes fieldes oliueries and woods therunto belonging to the Church of Loreto with the Popes approbation the 12. yeare of this age Wherupon a few dayes before his death in behalfe of the House of Loreto he confirmed the Donation of that Abbey with his Pontificall Breue and ordained Perotto him selfe Gouernour of Loreto supposing as it fell out that he who tooke contentment to increase the wealth of Loreto would also be carefull to preserue defend the same when it was increased The Queenes of Naples visite the House of Loreto CHAP. XV. POPE Leo the X. succeeding Iulius not only in the Apostolicke Chaire but also in his good purpose desired nothing more theÌ„ to yeeld to none in honouring the sacred House of Loreto And to manifest this his desire God gaue fitt occasioÌ„ in the verie beginning of his â—eigne For at that time the fame of the celebritie of the House of Loreto comming to Naples prouoked the two Ioanes of Aragon the elder and the yonger by the commonaltie called the Queenes of Naples because they were desceÌ„ded of the royall bloud to visit the Church which was glorified with so many miracles Who with a greate traine passing through good part of the Kingdome of Naples and comming by Abruzzo into Picene were receiued of the people with great ioy and preparation which way soeuer they went At which time the munificence of Leo was very notable for in all the townes of the Popes dominions through which they were to passe he coÌ„manded that these Queenes should be receiued with princely entertainment not so much for their owne honour as for the celebritie of the House of Loreto and granted full remission of sinnes not onely to the Queenes themselues but likewise to all that resorted to Loreto at their comming thither and rightly reuerenced the sacred House of our B. Lady the same day The 14. yeare of this age those Queenes came to visit the House of Loreto and in Picene there is extaÌ„t a famous monumeÌ„t therof For the report goeth that by this occasion in the territory of MoÌ„te-Sancto a towne betweene Loreto and Firmo the faire beaten way was paued which at this day is called the way of the Queenes being so called in time past of these Queenes in whose honour it was made Pope Leo the X. adorneth the Sacred House with ample Decrees CHAP. XVI AFTERVVARD Leo commanded that all the Indusgences Immunities The benefits of Leo the X. and benefittes of Iulius the second of the precedent Popes granted to the House of Loreto should be ratified with an expresse Breue which donne he carefullie added more to more aboundantly For he made the Church of Loreto a Collegiate Church giuing it the seale and other dignities of such Churches where he ordained 12. Chanons out of which number the Archpriest the keeper of the befoued House were to be chosen as many resident Priests called Mansioners and six
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
by the Pope himself that he might accompany her to the most desired House of the B. Virgin Vnder the walls of Recanati the godly woman beholding the House of Loreto a far of forthwith came out of her Coach and kneeling downe reuerently saluted the Mother of God from whence performing the rest of that iourney on foote all her traine followed the example of their Lady who came into Loreto in a white and a plaine garment shewing therby the great purity of her mind Her modesty was also very singular For being brought into the most sacred House of the B. Virgin by two Bishops without regard of Cushins or Tapestry she fell downe on her knees on the bare floore deuoutly worshipped the King and the Queene of heauen in time past the Inhabitants but now the Gouernours of that House with flowing teares besought pardon for herself and her huâ—band and by praier intreated peaceable wedlocke and issue-male Soone after deuoutly receiuing the sacred Mysteries she spent all the night following in praier with humble supplication before the B. Virgin doing also the like the two daies and nights that followed such strength did her feruent deuotion and piety bring vnto her And at her departure The vvorthy gifts or the great Duchesse of Tuscany she hung vp two harts of gold in golden chaines to be a monument that she was either most deare to her and her husband or els that the B. Virgin the author of concord would make her nusbands hart such a one vnto her as she knew hers to be vnto him And not coteÌ„ting herself with these Donaries she departed fully determined to honour the B. Virgin of Loreto with some yearly gift which as loÌ„g as she liued she did more carefully theÌ„ she purposed A worthy Image of siluer of Christ Crucified with a great Crosse of Ebony foure curious Candlestickes of siluer of a cubite and a half ornaments for the Bishop Priest Ministers and the Altar made of gold and siluer double curled and imbrodered a golden garment for the B. Virgin made with meruailous art also other furniture for the Altar and the holy Chalices beautified with imbrodery iewells gold and siluer were the worthiest gifts of Ioane de Austria whose praier and Donaries obtained her desire For soone after this Pilgrimage to Loreto she had issue-male by her husbaÌ„d a patterne of his Mothers piety borne in expectance of his Fathers and almost of a Kingly State who a while suruiuing his Mother erected the mindes of his people to the hope of vndoubted felicity But afterward the Mother dying and by the secret iudgment of God the yong child also following his Mother filled Tuscany with sorrow and lamentation And Ioane de Austria did not onely adorne the House of Loreto with her act but also with her example For not long after Margaret de Austria that out of the same family examples may be shewed not only of vertue in men but also of piety in women the daughter of Charles the V. and wife of Octauius Farnesius Duke of Parma came to Loreto with a great company of Noble meÌ„ where rightly receauing the mysteries of Confession and the most holy Eucharist for the space of three daies she was allwaies present in the Church at diuine seruice and in the most Maiesticall Chappell it self praied to God his B. Mother not so long The gift of Margaret de Austria as deuoutly and last of all putting a great quantity of gold into the arke honoured the B. Virgin with gifts worthy such a woman The Duchesse of Loraine being brought to Loreto sicke of the Palsey is cured by Miracle CHAP. XXVI THIS praise was not proper to the women of Austria and Italy Annal. Laur. Rier Victo Brigant Christerne or Christine the daughter of the King of Denmarke and of the Emperours sister Charles the V. being Duchesse of Loraine and a woman of manlike valour exceeding piety great age and much hindered with age and the palsey determined to come to Loreto to performe her vow who at the intreaty of her friends would neuer giue consent that the Pope himself should exchange that vow into other workes of piety so feruent was her desire to see the B. Virgin of Loreto Therefore assoone as she and her most Princely traine came into Italy but specially into Picene she made hast to the place whether she was bound well hoping to recouer perfect health by the help of our B. Lady Wheruppon in the very entrance of the most sacred House her soule was not only replenished with heauenly ioy but also her body restored to perfect health And perceyuing that the vse and strength of those members wherin she was molested was restored vnto her by miracle first beyond her custome she stood on her feet by her self alone to make triall of her strength then seeing the thing succeeded well without any help at all she went ioyfully about the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin all her familiar friends admiring the miracle and greatly extolling the worthy benefit of God and his B. Mother But Christine whome that thing did most concerne entring againe into the most Maiesticall Chappell with flowing teares of ioy fell downe before the Queene of heauen made no end of praising the diuine benefit no end of thanksgiuing and dedicated her self and all hers to God and his B. Mother And afterward that a monumeÌ„t of so great a benefit might euer remaine at Loreto in sight of the B. Virgin she hung vp in a chaine of gold a great hart crowned with solid gold which for that purpose she brought with her from home which donne she layd out Princely gifts a Crownet of vnions and orient pearles a Carkanet of precious stones siluer vestments of very curious damaske-worke for the Altar Priest and Ministers sacrificing with solemnity and last of all she increased these Princely gifts with a great summe of money Neither did she depart thence vnrewarded For Pope Gregory the xiij sent vnto her from the Citty a most ample Iubiley which she with her whole traine in which were almost fiue huÌ„dred people rightly receiued But the sorrowful message of the death of Sebastian King of Portugall her sisters sonne did not a little trouble her hart being made most ioyfull with these heauenly gifts yet in so great and suddaine a griefe the worthy vertue of the couragious and godly woman was not a little manifested because from mourning for the King her Cousin she imployed her self to help his soule and celebrated his funeralls with the greatest pompe that might be but so that in the House of Loreto it self she procured very many masses to be said for him And finally being inflamed with ChristiaÌ„ charity she her self did twice visit the hospitall of Loreto bestowing on euery sicke body two Crownes in golde with no lesse praise of humanity then liberality Two throwne very dangerously from their horses are deliuered from death CHAP. XXVII IT is lesse admirable