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
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
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
in their wet garments as they were returning speedilie to Loreto to render due thankes to our B. Ladie they prostrated their bodies on the ground before her Sacred Image and with trickling teares gaue hartie thaÌ„kes to God his B. Mother for their deliuerie Among the Guardians of Loreto there was one Bernardine Galiard a man of good credit and of long time host to the Capuchines with whome they lodged both before they weÌ„t to Ancona and after they returned to Loreto Who intertayning these FranciscaÌ„s of whom I haue spoken all wet with the sea demanding the cause therof at last they opened it vnto him with this condition that he should coÌ„ceale their names Wheruppon Galiard suppressing their names related it to others as he receiued it from them A yong man is deliuered from the whirle-poole of a Riuer CHAP. XVI BY the fauour of the B. Virgin of Loreto Trad. Laur. Annal. Laur. Rier an other eschewed nolesse daÌ„ger in a Riuer than the Franciscans did in the sea Angelus Autanus a yoÌ„g maÌ„ in the Territory of Salerno of great toward lines pietie went into the Riuer Vulturnus which passeth by Capua to wash his bodie with a fellow and companioÌ„ of his But his fellow going forward without regard and falling into the vnknowne whirl-pooles of the Riuer was in great danger of drowning Whereuppon Autanus making hast to aide his coÌ„panioÌ„ in hazard fell himself into the same danger out of which he laboured in vaine to deliuer the other For he himself being swallowed vp among the whirl-pooles of the swift streame but after some time cast vp againe from the bottome in the conflict of death called on our B. Ladie of Loreto as well as he could and the B. Virgin whome he inuocated was presently at hand who taking the young man out of the whirle-poole when he was almost dead receiued him into her lap and carrying him ouer the riuer for the space of a mile sett him downe in a conuenient shore Who remayned long amazed with dread of the danger and of the miracle But assoone as he came to himself he acknowleged the heauenly benefit fell downe on his knees and carefully saluting our B. Ladie his deliueresse with thankfullnes extolled her worthie praise and out of hand went to Loreto to worship the moher of God and to publish the miracle A maide of Loreto is deliuered out of a well a Cittizen of Caieta out of prison CHAP. XVII NEither did Loreto it self want the held of her Patronesse Trad. Laur. Annal. Laur. Rier in like danger of her people A yong maide coÌ„ming to draw water at a well in the Gouernours House of Loreto as she was accustomed let downe her bucket tied fast vnto a rope careleslie pulling it vp againe full of water with the weigh to the bucket tuÌ„bled headlong into the well calling on our B. Ladie of Loreto By chaÌ„ce one of the chiefe Ministers of the sacred House standing in a window and seeing the maid fall into the well implored the help of the B. Virgin in her behalfe and forth with with the rest of his houshold ranne vnto the well it self A wonder to be spoken When they saw that she was in no danger at all but sate on the water with ioyfull countenance in continent they let downe a great bucket fastened to a strong rope and warning the maide what she must do without delay endeauored to draw her vp who sitting in the bucket and holding the rope in her hands was a length brought to the top of the well but among so many hands vncertaine what to doo and rashly letting go the rope before any had holde of her she tumbled downe the same way againe Whereupon all that were present inuocating the Mother of God in her behalf the maid was conueyed downe againe to the water without any harme at all though many sherds of broken potts were vnderneath For which cause letting downe ladders they got her out a slower but a safer way and presently the maide her self tolde them how a Lady of great beautie did protect her as she fell into the well in whose handes she swomme on the water without any danger or grieuance at all The same also happened vnto her as she fell downe the second time for our B. Lady receiuing her with her hands made her to sit in her lappe vpon the water vntill ladders were sought out and fastened togeather to be let downe into the well that she might be preserued by this double miracle to be no small document of the B. Virgin of Loreto's protection But a man was as infallible an argument of her help at Rome as the maide was at Loreto A certaine Cittizen of Caeta borne of honest parentage but of litle courage and mâ—â—â—nimity and of a tender disposition by nature education being accused of murder by false witnesses was so frighted at the vnwonted sight of the torments that he had rather as often it chanceth suffer execution by confessing that which was false than auoide the same by denying it in torture Being condemned to die he washed away the blemishes of his soule by sacred Confession by exhortation of the Priest committed his cause to the heauenly Iudge intreating the assistance of the B. Virgin of Loreto His prayers were heard For within a while being ouertaken with a sweete sleepe he seemed to see the B. Virgin of Loreto who bidding him be of good comfort put him in hope of life and liberty Whereuppon the innocency of the man was presently knowne by miracle and the authors of that wickednes the workers of the false crime conuicted who suffered the same death which they prepared for the innocent A Bassa of the Turkes being cured by the B. Virgin of Loreto doth honour her with gifts CHAP. XVIII Trad. Laur. Annal. Laur. Rier NEITHER were the Barbarians deuoid of the help of Loreto Corcutus a President of the Turkes whome they call the Bassa being at ConstaÌ„tinople the yeare 1552. was brought into euident danger of death by a grieuous and a secret impostume of the brest A certaine honest and godlie Christian serued him as a slaue who thinking the danger of his maister the occasion of his liberty went vnto the President ready to dye and certifying him of the admirable power of the B. Virgin of Loreto in curing all manner of diseases put him in good hope of recouery and without great difficulty persuaded him to call on the B. Virgin of Loreto with him to make this vow If she tooke away his disease for her sake he would giue him liberty and release him from bondage Neither did the slaue deceiue his maister nor Marie her godly Client For within a while the impostume brake and the President was cured who giuing good testimonie therof set his slaue at libertie and sent him to the B. Virgin of Loreto with letters and gifts The gifts were a mantle of notable workmanship great wax candles no
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
who had seene the aforesaid vision in his sleep they drew him vnto the next decke to seeke out the rest but euen at that very instant they perceiued that Almightie God did protect the Catholicks with heauenly help For the Priest of whome we speake escaping out of their haÌ„ds by miracle was neuer after to be fouÌ„d Therefore hauing searched eight whole daies till they were wearie at last they gaue ouer to seeke after the Bisshop and dismissed the shippe that she might returne vnto her course But behold one danger after an other In the same voiage to France an other Nauy of Pirats met them more cruell then the former who by the instigation of Queene Elizabeth sought Edmund the Bishop for his destruction and out of hand taking the shippe wherin he sailed they boarded her ouerturned all the Merchandize and with lights searched all places with diligent care wherby they came to the secret place at last apprehended the Bishop himself They had preuailed if the present protection of our B. Lady had not quailed the rage of their enemies For behold as they were about to draw forth their prisoner they were striken with suddaine blindnesse and began to wander like blind men Wheruppon being frighted with the vndoubted wrath of God punishing their wickednes they let go the vessell which they had taken and she holding on her course by fauour of our B. Lady arriued at the desired harbour hauing twice in few daies escaped these exceeding dangers For which cause the Bishop and his retinew being very mindefull of their vow forthwith from the place where they landed came to Loreto on foote the yere 1586. where the Bishop rightly performing his vow left the whole matter set downe in writing in the House of Loreto in token of the double help of our B. Lady in his double danger The yeare ensuing the B. Virgin of Loreto by as great a miracle deliuered another froÌ„ the raging sea as she had donne these from the wicked Pirats Iohn Baptista Capra a Monte-Albodo the name of a towne in Picene a good a godly yong maÌ„ sayling in a Galcot toward the coast of Calabria and comming in sight of the Iland Vulcana which lieth ouer against the IlaÌ„d of Siâ—ilie was brought into imminent danger by a suddaine tempest For the oars were broken the saile was lost and the little vessell being tossed to fro with the waues was in great danger of drowning But he conceiuing good hope of safe deliuerance and inuocating the B. Virgin of Loreto cried vnto her As the Angells brought thy House into Picene where at this present it remayneth so thou B. Virgin Mother of God bring this litle vessell to the harbour A meruailous thing The tempest ceased as if it had beene controulled or bridled by his prayer and presently a prosperous wind beginning to blow made the Galcot ariue with safety that you may thinke the B. Virgin fauoured her Client and the report of the transportation of her sacred House by the hand-worke of Angells Two Priests hauing stolne a little morter out of the House of Loreto by their owne harme are taught to restore it thither againe CHAP. XV. Vict. Brigant THE report of the History of Loreto is confirmed by the former miracle but the religion of the most sacred House is established with this The same yeare two Priests of Placentia tooke alittle morter out of the sacred walls with intent to carrie it about them as a monument of the B. Virgin of Loreto and as a defence vnto them in the perills of this mortall life But protection sought against the will of God turned to their danger For assone as they returned into their Contrey they were punished with a terrible a cruell feuer wherewith being much vexed for the space of three moneths at last they repented And calling to mind the late example of the Bishop of Portugall who albeit by the Popes permission had taken a stone out of the House of Loreto yet God was so offended therwith that he was punished with a cruell sicknes and recouered not vntill he restored the sacred stone to the B. Virgin Therefore with common consent both determined to restore to our B. Lady that which they had taken from her earnestly requesting her to pardon their folly and to restore them their former health when she receiued her owne againe Wheruppon presently putting the morter into a silke purse and witnessing the miracle by their letters they deliuered it to the Pilgrims which came to Loreto and so recouered their health And the morter remayning in the silke purse as it was was brought to Loreto by the Pilgrims of Placentia to Rutilius Benzonius the Bishop who assoone as he read their letter gaue credit to the miracle and published it abroad to represse the boldnes of others by their example Our B. Lady appearing to two in the same forme wherin she is reuereÌ„ced at Loreto restoreth them their health despaired of by Physitians CHAP. XVI Vict. Brigant ABOVT that time the B. Virgin did shew by euident tokens that her Image in the House of Loreto was as deere vnto her as her natiue House it self Tiberius Delphinus a seruant of the Duke of Mantua being deere vnto him many waies consuming with a grieuous a long ague by vehmency of the sicknes was vpon departing Wheruppon as the Priest was carefully recoÌ„mending his soule armed with christian mysteries to the protectioÌ„ of God his Saints the House of Loreto innobled with many famous miracles came to the mind of him that lay a dying which whiles he was in health he could not visit by reason of busines And soone after a representation of the same House and of the B. Virgin appearing vnto him in his rest stirred him to make a vow to the Mother of God and to hope well of himself which was to good effect For he who euen now lay void of all sense beginning to reuiue and opening his eyes spake more cheerfully to them that were present told them how he had made a vow to visit the B. Virgin of Loreto leauing them all dismaied at the wonder of the thing Within few dayes he throughly recouered and assoone as by any meanes health permitted him to performe the iourney of his votiue Pilgrimage he went to Loreto before he had gotten sufficient strength so feruent was his desire to be free froÌ„ the vow which he had made And assoone as he came thither with harty thankes to God his B. Mother he performed his vow nigh at hand beholding the most religious Image of our B. Lady with diligeÌ„t care Truly said he in this very likenes and similitude I saw our B. Lady in my sleep when I was at the point of death that it may playnly appeare the Image at Loreto to be most like or els most deare vnto her Soone after this miracle was confirmed by an other of the same kind Iohn Raffrede a yong man
doth twice visit the sacred House of Loreto Chap. X. 11 The House of Loreto is adorned with Chappels heauenly signes Chap. XI 12 Pope Iulius the third instituteth a Colledge of the Society of IESVS at Loreto Chap. XII 13 The wonder of the heauenly flames is renewed at Loreto Chap. XIII 14 Heauenly flames are seene in the Church it self Chap. XIIII 15 Two Capuchines are deliuered from the raging sea Chap. XV. 16 A yong man is saued from the whirl-pooles of a Riuer Chap. XVI 17 A yong maid of Loreto is deliuered out of a well A Cittizen of Caieta out of prison Chap. XVII 18 A Bassa of the Turks is cured by the B. Virgin of Loreto and doth honour her with gifts Chap. XVIII 19 The House of Loreto is enriched with the gifts of Noble men Chap. XIX 20 By Reuelation of our B. Lady of Loreto Marcellus Ceruinus the Cardinall doth know that he shall be Pope Chap. XX. 21 The Religion of the sacred House is increased by inlarging the Iesuits Colledge Chap. XXI 22 The House of Loreto is enriched with gifts Chap. XXII 23 The French Army doth honour the sacred House wherby many of those souldiours are reduced to the way of saluation Chap. XXIII 24 The City of Vtina preserued from the plague Chap. XXIIII 25 Sight is restored to two that were blind Chap. XXV 26 A Pilot of Genua is deliuered twice from shipwrack Chap. XXVI 27 An innocent yong man is deliuered out of prison Also an other twice hanged is preserued from death Chap. XXVII 28 A woman of Sicily hauing her throte cut is cured Chap. XXVIII 29 A Genuese doubting of the House of Loreto is punished and repenteth Chap. XXIX 30 The violatours of the sacred House are punished by Miracle Chap. XXX 31 The robbers of the sacred Cell are apprehended by Miracle and put to death Chap. XXXI 32 Two yong men are deliuered from the seruitude of the Diuell Chap. XXXII 33 A yong man whome the Diuell had brought into bondage is deliuered freed therof Cha. XXXIII In the fourth Booke 1 THe care of Pius IV. and of the Cardinall of Vrbine in adorning the House of Loreto Chap. I. 2 The care of the Picentians the Protectiō of the B. Virgin towards her owne House Cha. II. 3 The Bishop of Conymbria being taught by his owne harme restoreth a stone which he procured to be taken out of the sacred House Chap. III. 4 The same stone is brought backe againe to Loreto and reuerenced with great preparation and concourse of people Chap. IIII. 5 Many are deliuered from manifest danger Chap. V. 6 A Marriner loosing his ship is saued by the help of our B. Lady of Loreto Chap. VI. 7 Two men are deliuered from lightening Two barren women are made fruitfull Chap. VII 8 Many despayring of their recouery are cured by Miracle Chap. VIII 9 Two possessed persons are deliuered from the tormenting Diuels Chap. IX 10 Sight is restored to two blind-men Chap. X. 11 The B. Virgin of Loreto doth cure two that were dumbe and doth also restore vnto one of them his tongue when it was cut out Chap. XI 12 A Iew is deliuered out of prison and baptized at Loreto Chap. XII 13 The chiefest gifts brought or sent to Loreto whiles Pius the IIII. was Pope Chap. XIII 14 The testimony of Pius V. of the House of Loreto Chap. XIIII 15 The Hospitality and almes of the House of Loreto Chap. XV. 16 The gifts of Pope Pius V. and of other Princes Chap. XVI 17 Some are deliuered from the inūdation of a Riuer others from a great tempest of the Sea and from Pirats Chap. XVII 18 Many are deliuered from the seruitude of the Turkes Chap. XVIII 19 One hanged on the gallowes is deliuered Chap. XX. 20 Two are preserued from capitall punishment Chap. XX. 21 The help of the B. Virgin of Loreto in the Victory gotten of the Turks by sea Chap. XXI 22 Pope Gregory the XIII adorneth the sacred House with Indulgences and wayes Chap. XXII 23 The celebrity of Loreto in the yeare of Iubiley Chap. XXIII 24 The piety of Don Iohn de Austria in visiting the House of Loreto Chap. XXIIII 25 The piety and munificence of Ioane de Austria the Great Duchesse of Tuscany Chap. XXV 26 The Duchesse of Loraine is cured of the palsey at Loreto Chap. XXVI 27 Two throwne from their horses are deliuered from death Chap. XXVII 28 A certaine man receiuing twelue deadly wounds is cured Chap. XXVIII 29 The Mother and the daughter are deliuered from death others from other diseases Chap. XXIX 30 Three Citties are deliuered from the plague Chap XXX In the fift Booke 1 THe gifts of the Cardinall of Vrbine and of other Princes Chap. I. 2 The celebrity of the Church of Loreto is increased Chap. II. 3 A Colledge of Sclauonians is instituted at Loreto Chap. III. 4 The munificence of Duke Ioyeuse and of the King of France Chap. IIII. 5 Other gifts of the Nobility of France Chap. V. 6 The Donaries of the Duke of Bauaria and of other Princes of Germany Chap. VI. 7 The gifts of the Princes of Italy Chap. VII 8 The Violatours of the sacred House are punished from heauen Chap. VIII 9 A Ship of Epidaurus is deliuered out of the hands of Pirats Chap. IX 10 Loreto is graced with the tytle of a Citty and with a Bishops Sea Chap. X. 11 Cardinall Ioyeuse recommendeth his protection of France to the B. Virgin Chap. XI 12 The worthy indeuours of Card. Gallus towards the B. Virgin of Loreto Chap. XII 13 Donaries brought or sent to Loreto whiles Xystus V. was Pope Chap. XIII 14 An Irish Bishop doth twice escape the hands of Heretiks Chap. XIIII 15 Two Priests are inforced to send backe the morter of the sacred House Chap. XV. 16 Our B. Lady appeareth to two in the same forme in which she is reuerenced at Loreto Chap. XVI 17 A Knight of Flanders is deliuered from his enemies by a worthy Miracle Chap. XVII 18 A deaf-man recouereth his hearing Chap. XVIII 19 Gifts brought or sent to the B. Virgin Gregory the XIIII being Pope Chap. XIX 20 The Indulgences of Pope Clement the VIII and the gifts of Noble men Chap. XX. 21 The Donaries of Noble women Chap. XXI 22 The gifts of Christine the Great Duchesse of Tuscany Chap. XXII 23 The gift of a Spanish Priest is honoured with a Miracle Chap. XXIII 24 Bracelets offered to the B. Virgin of Loreto do fasten themselues on the hands of Christ her litle Child Chap. XXIIII 25 Two are deliuered frō danger of death Chap. XXV 26 Anotorious wicked man is miraculously debarred from comming into the most Sacred House Chap. XXVI 27 A certaine man is preserued from committing of murder Chap. XXVII 28 The Celebritie and Maiestie of the House of Loreto Chap. XXVIII AN OTHER TABLE OR INDEX OF THE WORTHIEST THINGS THAT HAVE BYN BESTOWED vpon our B. Lady and her sacred House of LORETO The