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
if you consider the persons Annal. Laur. Rier but if the things themselues more meruailous which happened few yeares before The Lady Susan Thainonio is deliuered from death The Lady Susan wife of Iames Thainonio a worthy Knight of Cordauella being throwne to the ground by the horse wheron she rode came to exceeding danger by so great a fall For she lost all sense by the breaking or disioynting of her bones and by little and little the vitall heate forsaking all the body the skillfullest Phisitians despaired of her life Wheruppon the Priest recommending her as the vse is to God and his Saintes and now and then sprikling her with holy water prouided for the saluation of her soule being ready to depart Meanwhile Iames much grieuing the misfortune of his most deere wife entred into the next Church where kneeling downe and lifting vp both eyes and handes to heauen with many teares he deuoutlie inuocated the B. Virgin of Loreto promising vowing to go to the House of Loreto if she preserued her by her helpe whome no humane helpe could saue His vow had good effect For he had scarce made this promise but the woman began to be better and in short time recouered hauing her bones and lymmes cured by miracle And because the Knight would in no wise neglect his vow he and his wife came to Loreto the yeare 1576. famous and memorable for the Iubiley and brought to the Mother of God for a votiue gift a siluer plate with the Image of the B. Virgin of Loreto by which on the one side the Image of the man on the other the Image of the woman prayin deuoutly And the plate it self hath a short inscription which doth briefly relate the miracle for a monument therof to posterity About the same time there happened such an other Nicolas Pauonius is also deliuered from death Nicolas Pauonius a worthy Cittizen of Catana managing his horse among his companions was cast headlong on the ground by the horse falling in his swift course where he lay without life with the bruize of his body the bursting of his arme all to peeces Forthwith his seruants tooke him vp like to one giuing vp the ghost and carried him home hauing little vse of reason and also sent presently for Surgeons who being ouercome with the greatnes of his danger pronounced that there was no way but one Wheruppon by persuasion of his friends Pauonius called on our B. Lady of Loreto with this vow if he recouered his health he promised to go to the House of Loreto to giue her thankes And soone after a most pleasant sleepe came vpon him in which a glorious forme of the B. Virgin of Loreto was presented vnto him who with the touch of her hand presently cured his grieued members And the euent shewed that it was no deceitfull dreame For Nicolas awaking out of his sleepe and fynding that his lymmes were cured by miracle lept ioyfully out of his bed made hast to Loreto and performed his vow A certaine person who was taken out of the hands of his enemies when he had receaued twelue deadly wounds is cured by miracle CHAP. XXVIII HERE followeth another in another kind Annal. Laur. Rier of speciall admiratioÌ„ Iohn Philip Ambrose a NeapolitaÌ„ a maÌ„ of small substance but greatly deuoted to the B. Virgin of Loreto the 79. yeare of this age going vnarmed amongst his armed enemies was most tumultuously circumuented and wounded to death For being thrust in with many wounds how could he be far from his end wheÌ„ he had none in his coÌ„panie to aid him they were so inraged that they would not cease to wound him vntill they saw him throughly dead Wheruppon Ambrose being at the point of death deuoutly called on the B. Virgin of Loreto his praier was to good effect For he was presently taken out of the hands of these furious men by heauenly protectioÌ„ escaped present death He himself as afterward he reported perceiued that he was carried miraculously from thence about an arrowes flight The present help of our B. Lady at the houre of death where his friends receauing him conueyed him hom languishing and half dead But for all that he had not escaped the danger of death vnles he had gotten new helpe from our B. Lady in the said perill For his enemies had giuen him no lesse then twelue woundes wherof many were deadly which the Physitians beholding vtterly despaired of his life But the sicke man calling to mind the heauenly helpe which he had lately obtained of our B. Lady belieued that so great a miracle was to some great purpose Therfore whence he receaued help against the weapons of his enemies thence he began to hope for cure of his woundes And behold a new miracle For presently the B. Virgin whome he deuoutly inuocated making heauenly salue for his sores made him who was held for a dead man to arise out of his bed safe and sound and to go in continent to Loreto to performe his vow and to be a worthy document of the help which he had receaued from Loreto For twice at the same time he was deliuered from death it self and by knowne and vnknowne was no more called Iohn Philip but Lazarus reuiued The Mother and the Daughter are deliuered from death others from other diseases CHAP. XXIX Annal. Laur. Rier ABOVT the same time the B. Virgin of Loreto was as fauourable in curing of diseases as wounds There was one Melido a Cittizen of Guasto in Abruzzo whose wife and daughter were afflicted with so grieuous long a feuer that being in great extremity and hauing hallowed Candles burning at their heads as the vse is both at once were vpon departing But Melido who loued them both entirely purposing to trie the last refuge of all with great sorrow sell downe on his knees and with gushing teares implored the help of the 〈◊〉 Virgin of Loreto making a vow with his praâ—er and putting great coÌ„fidence in her benignity and help His hope deceaued him not A meruailous thing Suddainly his wife his daughter were deliuered out of danger and in few dayes perfect well being brought to Loreto by Melido himself the yeare 1579. they performed to the B. Virgin Mother of God the vow which he made for their recouerie The yeare following Iohn Peter of Florence hauing a daughter by Anne Bassa of Verselli his wife blind in both her eyes assoone as she was rightly baptized Anne her Mother deuoutly inuocated the B. Virgin of Loreto with this vow If sight of one eye onely were giuen vnto her child she promised to bring her to Loreto with the first conueniencie It appeared straight that her vow was pleasing to our B. Lady For by and by without the helpe of man A blind infant is restored vnto her eight the blind infant began to see with one eye And the Mother being very carefull of her vow went spedily to Loreto
little drawing the forke towards him thinking that the gifte remained on the same hand of Christ on which he left it suddainly he saw the bracelett remooued from the right to the left hand the golden globe which he held in that hand laid downe in the B. Virgins lap and the said bracelet fastened theron so fitlie and so elegantly that by setting of ladders with leisure and of purpose it could not be done more aptly seemely Wherupon the Keeper being suddainly stroken with a certaine sacred dread at the admiration of the thing said to the woman And Christ himselfe doth shew that thy gift is very gratefull vnto him for he hath put both thy bracelets on his owne hands whiles I was doing another thing Wherwith the woman heauenly grace assisting her sighed and whether for the riot of her former life or els for the late token of the diuine beneuolēce in her sighing powred forth such aboundance of teares that the sighes and sobs of her weeping were heard of them that prayed in the other part of the sacred Chamber Which moouing diuers of the company they came straight to the holier part of the sacred Chamber to see the woman ouercome with teares deuotion and the Keeper himself admiring the wonder of so great a thing Who afterward with many others told me this very thing as it happened which seemed wonderfull to all that considered the order and euent therof and was much spoken of both by word and writing of many Also at this day the sweet Child IESVS doth weare the said bracelets on his hands for a monument of the Miracle Two are deliuered from danger of death CHAP. XXV BVT to many peraduēture this may rather seeme a wonder then a miracle but it is an euident miracle The same yeare Bartholomew Meliorinus no meane Cittizen of Genua being at Placemia from altercation as it happeneth fell to blowes He was alone The contention began in the House of a Merchant of Florence with the maister of the House himself Wheruppon the houshold running at the first noise therof layd hands on their weapons to help their Maister In the fray Meliorinus receiued a grieuous wound in the shoulder and to make it more grieous the dagger being thrust in with great force brake in the midst At the intreaty of others the quarrell was ended Meliorinus was carried home dangerously wounded Forthwith Surgeons are sent for who wyping the wound looked on it and found that the dagger being thrust deep into the bone stucke so fast that it could not otherwise be gotten out then by launcing making the wound greater that they might haue meanes to come vnto the broken weapon When they had cut the flesh foure waies about the wound in manner of a Crosse they assaied to pull out the peece of the dagger with pinchers When that preuailed not they inuented a new and a paynfull remedy to bring it forth by beating of his brest on the contrary side which did much increase the most bitter payne of the woūd it self After the dagger was both beaten and drawne with the pinchers mooued nothing at all they constantly pronounced that he could not liue vnles God tooke mercy on him Wheruppon newes of his death comming to Genua his friends lamented him as dead But he thinking to adde diuine to humane help implored the aide of the B. Virgin of Loreto A wonderfull thing to be spoken seene The dagger mooued so easily out of the place to follow the pinchers that you may playnly perceiue it came not out so much by the endeauour of man as the goodnes of God And the sicke man obtaining his vow and recouering of that wound came to Loreto this very yeare 1594. euen as we were committing these things to writing and giuing manifold thankes to the B. Virgin left with her the peece of the dagger in token of so great a benefit About the same time Iohn Baptista Iudex a yong man of the same Citty noble for descent and wealth came to Loreto in performance of a Vow Who being at Venice the yeare before and falling into a grieuous and troublesome ague was so cruelly afflicted therwith that it brought him to the last cast and being forsaken by the Physitians he had no hope at all of recouering his health But being verie much deuoted to the B. Virgin of Loreto he confidently implored the help of his patronesse in this extremitie His trust deceiued him not For though the Phisitians despaired of the sick-mans amendment and thought verily that he could not liue yet being called vnto him againe by his houshold to feele his pulse they were presently put in so good comfort by signes of health that they conceiued great hope of his recouerie and deliuered the like to the sick-man and his frends Their hope deceiued them not Because from that time he began to be better euery houre and almost euerie moment vntill the ague quite forsooke him that in few dayes he throughly recouered and the yeare after came to Loreto to performe his vow where as I was committing these things to writing he himselfe told me the whole matter as I haue related it A notorious wicked man was miraculously debarred from comming into the most sacred Cell before he had made his Confession CHAP. XXVI ALSO at this very time Almightie God shewed by new miracles what care he hath of the sanctity of the House of Loreto A certaine Pilgrime came to Loreto loaden with all kind of wickednes and exceedingly giuen to an vngodly a desperate life Before whome as he presumed to passe the threshold of this most sacred Cell in the very entrance was presented a certaine ghost of horrible shape which deterred the desperate bold wretch and draue him backe againe with exceeding feare Wheruppō being touched with remorse for his sinnes he went vnto the Priest to purge his soule But to remember the sinnes of so many yeares much time was requisite and great feeling of repentance For he came to Confession nothing prepared nor thinking therof Wherfore the Priest persuaded him to retire him self into the most sacred Chappell to implore the help of God and his B. Mother to looke diligently into his former life and then to come to Confession better prepared When the Priest had dismissed him he went about that which he was cōmanded but wicked custome did prolong true pennance and sorrow of his shame rather then of his sinnes did molest and trouble his mind For which cause the said ghost appearing vnto him as he went backe to the sacred Chamber of the B. Virgin forbad him entrance againe which made him exceeding sorrowfull to be twice kept out of the most maiesticall Cell and sight of the Mother of God as a most wicked and defiled fellow Wherby true griefe and sorrow for offending God was giuen vnto him assoone as he was truely compunct for the loathsomnes of his wicked and filthy life Wherfore after diligent examination of his
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
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
Venice and there many yeares together making gaine of her dishonest bodie and heaping vp good store of wealth at last had a desire to see her Countrey returne home againe Therefore turning all her wealth into money with a familiar mate of hers she went towards Loreto intending to wash away the filth of her former life by Cōfesliō to salute the B. Virgin of Loreto that then she might go more ioyfullie into Sicilie But assoone as they came to the wood of Rauenna that good companion seeing all round about secure and the hope of the prey greatly prouoking him set on her vnawares with a drawne sword vpon with a deadlie weapon inuocated the B. Virgin of Loreto But the thiefe our B. Ladie deferring her helpe to haue it more notable cast her from the horse wheron she rode with the wound of the sword pursued her when she was downe and gaue her many blowes ernestlie imploring the help of our B. Ladie At length lest any hope of life should remaine the cruell wretch cut her throate whē she was halfe dead and taking away her golde and iewells and leauing her miserablie wounded departed from her Who tumbling in her owne bloud euen readie to yeeld vp the ghost recommended her agonizing soule to the B. Virgin and in that verie instant was made partaker of the vndoubted help of her Patronesse For presentlie with great glorie of heauenlie brightnes our B. Ladie appeared vnto her in a white garment and bidding her be of good comfort gentlie imbraced her cherished her in her lap in this her extremitie healed the wounds of her body with her touch replenished her sorrowfull hart with heauenly ioy and then admonishing her to lead a chaste life vanished out of her sight Wherewith the woman awaking as it were out of a heauie sleepe and viewing her body all ouer saw that the scarres of her late wounds were closed vp feeling with her hand perceiued also that the deadly woūd of her throate was perfectly cured Wherfore with exceeding ioy she fel downe on her knees and next after God gaue manifold thankes to her most assured Patronesse for so worthie a benefit Yet one thing did disturbe her great ioy which was to be left in the wood by the thiefe in her bloudie torne smocke But the B. Virgin Mother of God was as carefull to prouide for the naked shamefastnes of the womā as she had beene to preuēt the imminēt dāger of death For beholde as she was giuing thākes to our B. Ladie with great deuotion certaine Mulatiers passed that way by chāce who taking compassion to see a yong woman without clothes and imbrued with bloud also pilgrimaging to Loreto as by herself they vnderstood forth with clothed her with a couerlet putting her on a mule carried her to Ancona in token of their deuotiō to the B. Virgin of Loreto Whereuppō assoone as she had begged some meane apparell she went reioycing to Loreto to wash away the blemishes of her life by sacred Cōfessiō to performe her vow to our B. Ladie euerie where intending to publish her singular help by whose benefit without all doubt next after God she was preserued aliue and restored to perfect health when she was at the pointe of death it self To confirme the truth of this miracle she shewed the new signe of the deadlie woūd in her throate and by the prouidence of God there appeared no obscure token of so great a wonder For about her necke did glitter a golden scarre in māner of a chaine that you may playnlie vnderstand that her deadlie wound was toucht and cured by the heauenlie hand of our B. Ladie Which trulie to all that beheld it wherof Raphaell Riera who set it downe in writing was one was not onely a great monumēt of the miracle but euen a miracle of it self And the woman being either allured with the sweetnes of the House of Loreto or els desiring to render due thankes to the Mother of God so well deseruing of her preferred Loreto before her Countrey where she liued many yeares so deuoutlie that she would receiue the holie mysteries verie often then also reuisit the B. Virgin of Loreto to excite the Inhabitants to the seruice of God and his B. Mother with singular example of innocencie and pietie A certaine man of Genua doubting of the House of Loreto being well punished repenteth CHAP. XXIX ABOVT that time Almighty God established the religion of the Cell of Loreto with a famous miracle Annal. Laur. Rier lest any hereafter should doubt therof The yeare 1557. a certaine Genuese whose name we conceale to saue his credit borne of no meane parentage but more curious then godlie went on horsbacke from Genua to Loreto Who in the way by instinct doubtles of the diuell first began to suspect then also to belieue that the House of Loreto was no ancient monument of our B. Ladie but a new muention or superstition and auarice But the wicked cogitation of the mad man was not long vnpun shed For the verie same day the horse on which he rode fell downe vpon him and oppressed him so greatlie with the weight of all his bodie that the miserable man lay bruized and halfe dead vnder his horse in the high way without any hope of helpe because he had none in his companie to do any thing for him His miserie gaue him vnderstanding Whereuppon turning rashues into deuotion he called on our B. Ladie of Loreto Neither in vaine For being presently desiuered of the horse he rose vp safe and sound But the present clemencie of God did not expell the conceiued frenzie of the mad man who within a while returning to his wicked conceite againe made the miracle more notable For hauing gone but a little way and the diuell tempting him more vehementlie then before he thought with himself that the wonders which were reported of the House of Loreto were altogether false But not without punishment For the House of Loreto being now in sight the blindenes of his minde brake out into the bodie by a dymnesse which tooke away his sight presentlie strength began to faile him not well in his witts Therfore trembling for feare and seeming like to one dismaied and not able to guide his horse by the horse himself he was brought to Loreto which stood still at the next Inne where almost faynting and readie to fall downe he was supported by the host who taking him by the hand lead him into a chāber laid him in a bed where carefullie recalling to minde the manifest wrath of Almightie God twice experienced in the same iourney and also fearing greater punishment by the present losse of his sight he began to weepe bitterlie This feare was his health For being assisted by the grace of God he repented and hoping that a penitent might haue safe reguge by the fauour and clemencie of the B. Virgin he besought pardon of God and his B. Mother
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
was as memorable for the shortnes of his Popedome as the loue of all men towards him Gregorie the 14. a good and a godly man was chosen after Vrbane but being weake and sickly most of his raigne he sate but twelue moneths This time was most miserable and wicked and no kind of mischiefe was wanting For the Bandites which reuolted in the later time of Xystus ranged freely vp and downe in troupes much infesting the wayes of the Popes dominiōs with armes Besides there was a penury with great dearth Aboue all a grieuous mortality the companion of extreme famine spread almost ouer all Italy among all degrees and ages Neither was this yeare onely but also the next as fatall to Italy wherwith the fields were almost depriued of husbandmē the Citties of Cittizens and townes and villages of inhabitants not so much with sicknes as which is most miserable with hunger and famine Wherby there came fewer Pilgrims and Donaries to Loreto then were wont but more vowes to visit and adorne the House of Loreto as the yeares ensuing did well declare Yet notwithstanding this very time which wasted so many Citties of their Cittizens and townes and villages of their Inhabitants did not wholy depriue the House of Loreto of gifts The gift of Lelius Pignatellus and of others Lelius Pignatellus of Naples dedicated to the B. Virgin a siluer lampe of two pound weight Cardinall Sfondrato nephew to Gregory the 14. the Image of our B. Lady of Loreto purtured in a plate of siluer of three pound weight Hercules Sfondrato the Earle such an other siluer Image of our B. Lady of ten pound weight with a siluer plate of like worke but of different weight and two Crewets of siluer Alfonsus Coroneus a goblet of iewells of great price which being turned of one entire hollowed gemme seemeth to be a kind of Achates commonly called an Agat Dionyse Delphinus a Venetian worthy ornature of cloth of siluer for the Priest when he sacrificeth N. Pernestaina sister to the Viceroies wife of Boeme a golden Pall curiously and richly adorned with siluer flowers like vnto starres which made goodly ornature for the Bishop This gift is most memorable aswell for profit as bounty Peter Tyrannus Calliensis The inheritance of Peter Tyrannus a very rich and a wealthy man by his will made the B. Virgin of Loreto the sole heire of his patrimony The chiefest of his inheritance was Falconaria a rich Farme which being very fruitfull both for corne and wine is situated most conueniently to wit not far from Ancona and the sea that from thence the commodities and fruites may be conueyed to Loreto by boate The whole inheritance is thought to be worth about three score thousād Crownes which must needes be a very great furderance to supplie all the necessities of the House of Loreto either present or to come And truly the great dearth and scarcity which at that time afflicted Italy exceedingly increased the huge expences of the House of Loreto and for the most part hindered the commodity of her Almes and donaries For besides 800. Crownes which the Treasury of Loreto payeth yearely to the Bishop she disburseth six thousand Crownes to twelue Chanons to twelue mansionary Priests as they call them to six Cleargy men Coadiutors of the Quyre to diuers Quyristers and many other Officers of the Church besides prouision of wax oile and other necessaries for the sacred House it self Also it mayntaineth all the companie of the Gouernour of Loreto a great family of Artificers of husbandmen and sheepheards wherunto are added two Colledges the one of the Society of Iesus the other of Sclauonians which when the times were better receiued almost fiuethousand Crownes out of the reuenewe◠of the House of Loreto In the hospitall and spittle many Pilgrims both sicke and poore are cherished to religious men ad Priests diet is giuen for three dayes to other poore strangers bread is publickely destributed Bishops Cardinals and other principall men are curteously and bountifully intertayned and the sumptuous and honourable building of our B. Lady is neuer allmost intermitted Whereby these so great and huge yearely expences are said to exceed twenty thousād crownes which seeing the wealth of Loreto did with difficulty discharge in the aboundāce plenty of things at those times the expences must needes be much increased And the scarcity of victualls continued almost foure yeares all which time the reuenewes of the Land and of the Treasury were double or triple lesse then was wont and yet the charges were almost doubled Wherefore the inheritance of Calliensis did relieue the necessities of Loreto in very fit oportunity but not more for the present then for the time to come Shortly after a small thing to be spoken of did not a little illustrate the religion of the House of Loreto Marcus Sara a famous Captaine of the Bandites infesting the popes dominions with armes VVhat respect Marcus Sara vsed to the most Sacred House and comming into Picene with a great company of wicked confederates was euen ouercome by the respect which all do commonly beare to the B. Virgin of Loreto For passing by Loreto and comming to a conuenient place he saluted our B. Lady with a ioyfull peale of shotte of all his cōpanies and was so far from violating the treasures of Loreto as that he reuerenced the sacred House with gifts Being kept our of the Church and the Citty it self he sent a certaine man to Loreto with a gift that money might be liberally giuen to the Mother of God by them who by violence and murder are accustomed to get it God of his godnes mitigating such stony hartes in fauour of his B. Mother Meane-while albeit there was great dearth and scarcity of corne neuerthelesse Paulucius the Gouernour dayly distributed great quantity of bread to the poore Pilgrims a gift most gratefull vnto them because the famine which they sustained was very great The chiefest Indulgence of Clement the VIII CHAP. XX. INNOCENTIVS the ix sitting about two moneths succeeded after the one yeares raigne of Gregory the xiiij who hauing donne many worthy things in the beginning of his raigne frustrated the notable hope of all good men being quickly taken away by suddaine death After whome Clement the viij succeeding deserued worthy remembrance for his Fatherly prouidence and solicitude For in the beginning of his Popedome with all diligence he lessened the dearth of corne increased by the wickednes of men and putting the theeues to flight opened the wayes which they had besieged with great good of the pilgrimage of Loreto Who by reason of his exceeding piety to the B. Virgin Mother of God graced the House of Loreto with so worthy a gift of Indulgences that now nothing may seeme to be added therunto For knowing very well that many Pilgrims did resort to the sacred House of Loreto at all times of the yeare and also considering that the Indulgences of former Popes were restrayned to