his sicknes amazed and astonished with the admiration of the thing And being put in good hope of the high Priesthood by the promise of the B. Virgin and also well remeÌ„bring the benefit which he had receiued he coÌ„manded the Gouernour of the House of Loreto forthwith to be sent for To whoÌ„ he openly declared how he purposed to build a most magnificent Church in honour of our B. Lady of Loreto out of hand in his name and at his cost willing him to prouide lime morter and other stuffe sufficieÌ„t for such a worke Departing theÌ„ce to Rome to the election of the new Pope he him selfe was created Pope taking on him the name of Paul the second Paul the 2. doth build a nevv Church about the House of Loreto and hauing scarce entered into his Popedome he determined to begin the Church of Loreto as not vnmindfull by whose helpe he obtained not only health of body but euen the highest dignitie that may be And foreseeing alreadie in his mind the greatnes of that place in time to come assoone as the old Church was taken downe he occupied great space of the ground adioyning with goodly foundations speedily went forward with the worke it selfe That a great part of the Church of Loreto was built by Paul the second Baptista Mantuanus doth testifie by whom in his Poeme Agelariorum that is Of the Shepheards the Gouernour of the shippe speaketh this to Antonie a princ pall man sayling along the Picene shore Bapt. Mant. lib. 6. That building which on Picene shores you now farre of behold Belongs to Her that did Gods Sonne in Virgins wombe infold VVhich hither from Assyria once by powerfull Angells aide VVith passage strange aboue the seas was through the ayre conueyd And a little after Laureta's House they doe it call yet must it not be thought That this high Temple also was from forraine Countreys brought These ornaments were added since to grace the House withall At charge and great deuotion of the Prince of Prelates Paul Wherby we may coÌ„iecture that he brought the Church of Loreto almost vnto the roofe And whiles the Church was forwarded with all expedition the Pope did not only adorne the House of the mother of God with buildings The Indulgences of Paul the 2. but also with letters and Pontificall gifts For to them that visited the House of Loreto all the festiuall dayes of our B. Lady and the sundayes of the yeare benâ—ides he granted full remission of their sinnes It seemeth a thing worth the labour to insert the beginning of both his Breues that all may see the worthy testimonie of the high Bishop coÌ„cerning the great sanctatie of the House of Loreto and a monumeÌ„t of his owne health restored vnto him by miracle The testiâ—â—â—â—ie of Paul the 2. Hauing therfore spoken a few things according to the ancient vse of the Roman Bishops thus he writeth Though for the Greatnes of the graces which by the intercession of the glorious Virgin MARIE the Mother of his Sonne the Almightie dailie worketh to the faithfull making their godlie Vowes vnto her holie Churches dedicated in honour of her name are to be reuerenced with great deuotion notwiâ—hstanding that honour is to be exhibited more carefullie ton ardes those in which by the intercession of the said B. Virgin the Highest worketh greatest and most euident miracles as the experience therof is manisest at the Church of our B. Ladie of Loreto in the Diocesse of Recanâ—â—â—i where miraculouslie was placed the true Image of the B. Virgin her selfe and whither deuout people assembled froÌ„ diuers parts of the world by reason of the great of the wonderfull and innumerable miracles which there are wrought by the helpe of the glorious Virgin AND VVE IN OVR OVVNE PERSON HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME The bâ—â—â—eâ—◠〈…〉 and the rest that followeth Moreouer with these Indulgences he granted singular priuâ—edges The House of Loreto S. â—â—â—pted froÌ„ 〈◊〉 iurisdictâ—oÌ„ oâ— the Bishop of Recanaâ—i For he exâ—mpted the House of Loreto togeather with her ministers and all things therunto belonging out of the iurisdiction oâ— the Bishop of Recanaâ—i receiuing it into his into the protection of the Sea Apostolike and of the holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and graunted most ample â—acultâ—e to the Priestes of Loreto to absoâ—ue Pilgrimes from sinnes and offences reserued to the Bishop An other testimonie of Paul the 2. or to the Sea Apostolike I thought good also to set downe the proeme of this â—ater Decree in which he maketh very honourable mentioÌ„ of the House of Loreto as followeth Seeing to the Church of our B. Ladie of Loreto seated on one side the walles of the Cittie of Recanaâ—i in which through the great clemeÌ„cie of God as credible persons haue deliuered the House and the Image of the glorious Virgin her selse was placed by the handworke of Angells and to the which for the often the wonderfull miracles which by the meriâ—es and intercession of the same glorious Virgin the Almightie worketh on all that recurre vnto her and with humilitie implore her helpe daily out of diuers euen the remotest partes of the world multitudes of people being deliuered by the aide of the said glorious Virgin do flocke assemble and the rest that followeth Iames a Franciscan is deliuered froÌ„ an incurable disease and from the assaultes of Diuells CHAP. II. CERTAINE miracles of this time are deliuered which are not to be omitted Iames of Picene a holy and a learned man of the familie of the Franciscans being a worthy preacher of the Gospell Chron. Franc. li. 6. c. 3. et 4. about the 70. yeare of that age was taken with an incurable disease which did much disquiet his mind for so great was the force of his sicknes that the very name therof tooke from him all hope of helping people by meane of holy sermons wherupon despairing of humane helpe he turned his hope and his vow to God and his B. mother forth with notwithstanding his infirmitie comming to Loreto in manner of a Pilgrime in the sacred Cell of the B. Virgin in time of the dreadfull sacrificewith flowing teares he earnestly besought the Queene or heauen that through the mercie or Iesus her sonne she would obtaine for him hearth of body which peraduenture might be to the saluation of many people by preaching his holy Ghospell Without delay our B. Lady appeared vnto him bidding him aske of her some other thing for that which he requested was already granted And Iames in coÌ„tinent perceiuing that he was restored vnto his health gaue hartie thankes vnto the B. Virgin and returned home not so much ioying his owne happe as theirs whose saluation he tendered Neither in this onely was he made partaker of the helpe of our B. Ladie of Loreto For certaine yeares after being long and much vexed with the importunate feinds he made haste to Loreto the most certaine solace of his euills
at Auinigon published and kept the celebritie of the secular Iubiley S. Anto. par 3. Plat. Cle. vt reducing it to the 50. yeare wherby the multitude of people which came from all places to Rome was almost incredible wherof many to wit the Inhabitants of Flaminia and Emilia came out of their way to go to the House of Loreto most illustrious with fame But shortly after a horrible plague begining at Rome it selfe the head Cittie of the world wasted all Italy almost with funeralles continued three whole yeares at which time euery hundredth person scarce remaining aliue the Citties of Italy were reduced euen to waste and desolation Which infinite calamitie as I may terme it in very deed inforced many Italians to implore the helpe of our B. Lady of Loreto that in so horrible a tempest and storme they might be protected with the shadow of heauenly helpe About twentie yeares after Vrbane the V. succeeding Clement at last reuisited Rome but not so much to recall thither the Pontificall Sea as to compose the affaires of the Cittie and the troubles of Italy But soone after his returne from the Cittie into Frāce he departed this life After whome Gregory the XI receiued the Popedome who was so mooued with the miseries of Italy and with the worthy prayers of S. Catherine of Siena a virgin of admirable sanctitie that at length he returned the Pontificall Sea to Rome about 70. yeares after it was translated into France The continuance of Schisme depriueth the House of Loreto of many benefites of the Popes CHAP. XXI SHORTLY after Gregory being taken out of this mortall life Vrbane the VI. was created Pope against whom the French factiō subrogated Clement the VII a false Pope who opposed his Auinigon seat against the Sea of Rome which he would haue to be called the Roman wherby the Church was troubled and diuided into two partes But what hinderance the absence of the Roman Bishop was to the ornament and commodities of the House of Loreto was well perceiued euen at that time by his presence For though Vrbane the Pope was molested and disquieted with schisme The Indulgences of Vrbane the V I. and with the armes and treacherie of schismaticall Princes yet in the midst of so many troubles and cares he had some regard to adorne the B. Virgin of Loreto For being acertained of the heauēly flames wont to be seene ouer the House of Loreto the 6. of the Ides of September he applied his mind to honour the heauenly Queene and with Pontificall giftes frō the Vicar of God thought good to adorne the natiue habitation of the B. Virgin beautified with heauenly signes from God him selfe Wherefore to them that visited the House of Loreto the day of the B. Virgins natiuitie he granted most bountifull remission of their sinnes the 90. yeare of that age in very fit time For Bonifacius the IX succeeding Vrbane did not only by example of his Predecessour adorne the House of Loreto with new Indulgences but also kept the celebritie of the Iubiley which according to the institution of Bonifacius the VIII fell in the yeare of our Redemption 1400. And as the Pontificall Sea recalled againe to Rome and a desire to see the Pope drew an innumerable multitude from all partes to the Cittie to visit the Churches of the Apostles so also the fame of these heauēly flames and Pontificall Indulgences excited many of them to visit the Cell of Loreto chiefly in the month of September and ther to celebrate the natiuitie of the Blessed Virgin About the same time Hier. Ang. the Cittizens of Recanati that also in the winter time people might haue free passage to the most sacred House tooke order that the way which went to Loreto should be paued and bordered with bricke by which they erected little oratories of like distance from ech other as instigations to increase deuotion and to succour the Pilgrimes in stormie weather This example of the people of Recanati prouoked the people of Picene to imitate that pious worke wherby the wayes which went to Loreto from the bordering Citties and townes began straight to be paued and from Ancona Auximo Montesanto and Firmo were brought euen to Loreto it selfe Also bridges were made ouer the Riuers which ranne through Pecene that they might giue secure and speedy passage to the Pilgrimes But the continuall disturbance of the Christian state did no lesse hinder the ornaments of the House of Loreto then the aboad of the Romane Bishopps in France had donne For that long and variable schisme wherof the like hath neuer bin troubled many Popes for fortie yeares togeather S. Anto. par 3. vntill Martin the V. with the great liking of all was created Pope in the Councell of Constance who at last brought peace and concord to the Christian world And truely as that foule tempest of discord oppressed the Church and the Popes with many euills so in like maner it depriued the House of Loreto of no small heape of commodities that the times ensuing did well declare Martin the V. adorneth the House of Loreto with Indulgences and faires CHAP. XXII HITHER TO I haue rehearsed many things not very manifest not only for their antiquitie and the disquiet of the whole world but also for that they were badly committed to writing in good part of the time which happened from the translation of the House of our B. Lady out of Galiley till she was setled at Loreto and began to be more more frequented in this great varietie and disturbance of the Christian state Also if there were any thinges in the recordes of Recanati or in other publicke or priuate monuments which might giue light to this Historie for the most part they perished as we said before when the Registry togeather with the Cittie was consumed with fire But the industrie of the Dalmatians supplied the want of the Cittizens of Recanati For the Flumentians bordering on Tersact Hier. Angel in time of Pope Leo the 10. did giue no small light to the first beginning of the historie of Loreto sending those things to the people of Recanati signed in writing which they found in the ancient Chronicles of their forefathers concerning the first remoouall of this most sacred House into Dalmatia their inquisition reuerence the miracles of the same Wherof the Cittizens of Recanati certified Leo the Pope as witnesseth Hierome Angelita who at that very time was Secretarie to the Cittie of Recanati and afterward dedicated his historie of Loreto where he deliuered these thinges to posteritie to Clement the VII Cosin-german to Leo and partaker of his secrets So hauing followed Angelita an authour of no small reputation and credit out of the chronicles of Sclauonio we haue collected the first part of this historie adding therunto out of the proper monumēts of Recanati what the mercilesse fire left vnconsumed But hereafter all that we are to relate will be more euident and copious
diuers accidents and misfortunes CoÌ„sidering therfore that this most sacred House not only illustrious for her wealth but also for the fame of her sanctimonie was seated in an vnfenced towne as a prey to the auarice of souldiers and Barbarians by the aduise and helpe of Bramant the notable Architect he beganne to forward this his intended worke by Hierome Roboreo Patrone of Loreto And Hierome thinking it the office and honour of his familie to adorne the House of Loreto with all his might built fortified the Church in manner or a Castle for the very Chappell 's theÌ„ selues are made like to bulwarkes and round about in the top of the Church walles are conueied little pâ—nnacles and passages vnder the roofe that on euery side the souldiers may passe safelie vp downe for defence therof To the beholder a far of it hath the forme rather of a Castle then of a Church And a little hill doth helpe the fortification therof in the top wherof it is seated specially on that side which standeth towardes the sea The bodie of the Church doth stand on twelue great Columnes like to pillars wherof six on each side support the vauted roofe And the said bodie hath also on either side as it were two winges in which are erected six little Chappels answering to one another betweene the pillars Alâ—o about the head of the Church are placed seauen greater Chappell 's among the which are foure Vestries wherin all the Donaries of Loreto are reserued Vnder the thole which is as the head of the Church the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin hath the most principall place and on euery side perspicuous many caire Chappell 's of admirable workmanship as we haue said erected round about Pope Iulius the second is protected from a great shot and adorneth the House of Loreto with gifts CHAP. XII MEANE time by an euident miracle the Pope was more enkindled to honour salute the B. Virgin of Loreto for going to Bologna to represse the commotion of the Bentiuolians he came to Loreto and the very day of the B. Virgins natiuitie said Masse in her natiue Chappell After Masse with soleÌ„ne pompe he went into a pulpit prepared of purpose for him where blessing the people who flocked thither more then vsually by reason of the Popes comming he graunted remission of sinnes vnto all that rightly visited the sacred House of Loreto that day Some there be who write that Iulius made a vow to the B. Virgin at that time going to prosecute the Tyrants with godlie and iust war and truly the euent therof and the donaries which he sent for the victorie obtained do testifie the same Iulius therfore comming to Bologna Vicciar lib. 9. On. fr. in â—ul 2. expelled the Bentiuolians pacified the Citty And when he had taken Fauentia Foroliuio RaueÌ„na and other Citties and townes of the Popes DominioÌ„s by force seeing that the siege of MiraÌ„dula was prolonged by the negligeÌ„ce of his captaines by a new exaÌ„ple he himselfe went into the Tents to animate the Captaines and souldiers with his presence Where as he was consulting of the war with the Cardinall in a Pauilion he escaped manifest danger by heauenly protection For an iron bullet as bigge as a mans head being suddenly shotte out of a great brazen peece by the enemie ouerthrew the Consistorie but hurt the Pope nothing at all nor any that was with him in Councell Wherupon the Pope confessed that he was wholly bound to the B. Virgin of Loreto for that good benefit either because he had made a vow vnto her when he weÌ„t vnto the war or els for that at the first noise of the peece he inuocated the said B. Virgin of Loreto Hauing therfore taken Mirandula with honour and gotten other victories he came to Loreto to performe his vow and when he had giueÌ„ hartie thanks to God and his B. mother he commanded that the bullet should be reserued in the most sacred Chappell for a monument to posteritie how great danger he eschued by the protection of the B. Virgin of Loreto which was hong vp on the left wall of the Altar commonly called the Epistle side there now remayning to be seene But afterward Iulius the Pope that he might not be onely deuout but also gratefull to the B. Virgin began carefully to adorne the Church of Loreto And thinking it best to enrich the high Altar with sacred ornature he sent from the Cittie an excelleÌ„t sute for the Altar of tissue cloth of gold a siluer Crosse of fortie pound weight parcell guilt and carued with excellent workmanship two Candlestickes of a cubite and a halfe of the same substance worke of 26. pound weight And in the round base of the Crosse there is an inscription for no small token that the Popes victories were gotten by the helpe of the B. Virgin mother of God POPE IVLIVS THE SECOND DEDICATED IT TO THE B. VIRGIN OF LORETO THE YEARE M.D.X. IN THIS SIGNE THOV SHALT OVERCOME But Iulius thinking these giftes not sufficient gaue also two ornaments of blew veluet for the Altar called frontlets adorned with gold precious stones and imbroderie wherwith he sent ornature for the Ministers a Myter of excellent workmanship and other Pontificall vestments for Popes or Bishops to vse in time of Masse Besides he gaue and dedicated to the B. Virgin of Loreto purple tapestrie to adorne the walles of the Church and many other giftes A girle of seauen yeares of age is brought to Loreto by the B. Virgin her selfe CHAP. XIII MVCH about the same time that the B. Virgin of Loreto defended the Pope in the war she in time of peace made sure to her selfe a poore girle by an vnwoÌ„ted miracle One Sabine of no meane village in the countrey of Picene called Roccha CoÌ„trada had a daughter named Alexandra seauen yeares of age who kept his sheepe not far froÌ„ the towne whiles the sheepe were feeding the girle was accustomed to pray to almightie God with great deuotioÌ„ vnder trees whereby before she was â—ullie of age she dedicated her self to Almightie God by miracle by the iustruction and teaching of so good a maister perseuering still in her prayer to reuerence the mother of God with great deuotioÌ„ a Ladie appeared suddeÌ„lie vnto her in heauenlie brightnes without doubt it was the mother of God who taking the girle by the hand coÌ„manded her to follow her A wonderfull thing to be spoken the Queene of heauen herselfe brought the little maid to the House of Loreto thirtie miles froÌ„ that place and when she had replenished her with great ioy at the sight of her Image and of her House she brought her backe againe to her sheepe Whereupon Alexandra had a great desire to see that place sight againe though she was ignorant what the House and Virgin was for wheÌ„ the tasted sweetnes of the House of Loreto once entred into her minde with flowing teares she neuer ceased to
a scorne not onelie to mortall men but euen to the moÌ„sters of hell For the diuells appearing vnto him in horrible shapes coÌ„teÌ„ptuously beating him with stripes as their slaue did not onely insult ouer the body but also ouer the soule of the vnhappie yoÌ„g man threatning to lay vpon him more grieuous horrible punishment I belieue to the end he might despaire with the grieuousnes of his tormeÌ„ts so cruell incessant is the gouerment of the diuell ouer wicked men And the wretch being thus oppressed with misery on euery side was euen now almost ouercome with desperation But as he was thus tormeÌ„ted in himself looking to fro a light appearing suddainlie vnto him put him in hope of saluation and brought him in mind of the B. Virgin of Loreto of whose power benignitie he had heard many wonderfull things Wherby his guiltie soule being trulie peniteÌ„t for the impuritie of his former life with flowing teares he began to inuocate the Mother of God that by her fauour he might pacifie Almightie God turne from him his heaueÌ„lie wrath But forthwith that infernall companie resisted him going about to imbrace this wholsome determination who turning conteÌ„pt into hatred mingling threats with stripes indeauoured to frighten withdraw the poore man from his good purpose But at last Christian constancy ouercame the importunitie of the diuells by the fauour and protection of the Mother of God the yong man determined to perseuere in his purpose well begunne Therfore prostrating his body and mind before his most benigne Patronesse with all hope and confidence he implored her aide against those infernall furies beseeching her to take from his necke the yoke of that most miserable bondage that being once deliuered and freed therof he might go ioyfully to Loreto to purifie his soule from sinne and to giue due thankes to her his Deliueresse His hope praier was not in vaine For out of hand Alm. God gaue him great hope of heauenlie help and replenished him with no small ioy driuing those troublesome tormentors far away whose noise roring was so easilie perceiued that they confessed though with much vnwillingnes that they could do nothing against Marie WheruppoÌ„ scarce his owne maÌ„ for ioy he went presentlie to Loreto as he vowed washing away all the blemishes of his life in the SacrameÌ„t of CoÌ„fession gaue hartie thaÌ„kes to God the B. Virgin to certaine Priests wherof Raphaell Riera was one desirous of such newes in few he ioyfullie declared the heauenlie benefit which he had receiued by the fauour of the B. Virgin of Loreto She also deliuereth a yong man whome the diuell had brought into bondage by restoring vnto him a writing of his owne hand CHAP. XXXIII MOREOVER the Patronage of the B. Virgin of Loreto saued another yong man Annal. Laur. Rier whome raging lust drew headlong to vtter perdition For being of desperate affection desire and audacitie he gaue himself wholy to forbiddeÌ„ pleasures and ouercomming many matrons with his dishonestie he burned with the excessiue loue of a certaine woman whome seeing he could gaine neither by increatie nor money nor force nor deceite he determined to experience the most desperate course of all Making meanes therfore to the diuell by Art-magicke he reouested to be made partaker of his desire shewâ—ng himself ready to condescend to all to enioy that which he so ernestly sought Wheruppon by coÌ„mandmeÌ„t of the diuel he forsooke Christ and gaue and deliuered himselfe wholy to him and which is more did also sweare vnto him by prescript wordes and bound himselfe vnto it by hand-writing so far doth the loue of pleasure blind impure mindes But when he had obtained his desire satietie as it happeneth bred loath somnes and by the goodnes and grace of god he weighed the greatnes of his offence with mature consideration And being truely peniteÌ„t for his wicked sinne and conceiuing some hope of pardon he began to seeke for heauenly help and to call on Almightie God and his B. Mother Meane time the B. Virgin of Loreto and the Priests of the sacred House endued with most ample faculty to release sinnes comming to his mind without delay made him to go to Loreto A mightie God being the author and guid of his iourney not doubting but there to find remedy against so many euills His hope deceiued him not For assoone as he came thither making meanes to confer with a discreet Priest he declared vnto him his mournful state and asked him whether he might haue any hope to be saued And first the Priest remayned somewhat amâ—zed at the grieuousnes of the offence but theÌ„ declaring vnto him the greatnes therof he put him in hope of saluation if by praier fasting and voluntary punishment of his body he would wholy giue himself to pacifie Almighty God When he refused no punishment at all the Priest promised him if he did what he was commaÌ„ded he would willingly heare him and by the grace of God would also take away so great an offence At parting he exhorted him to punish his body with fasting with hair-cloth stripes for the space of three daies to implore the help of the B. Virgin and by her to aske humble pardon of Almighty God for his grieuous sinne and he also promised to say Masse for his saluation all that time whereby there was good confidence on either side The three daies being so spent before he gaue him absolution the Priest thought good to wrest his haÌ„d-writing from the diuell that he might haue no right nor interest at all in him Therfore he exhorted the Penitent to retire himself into the most Maiesticall Chappell and ernestly to importune the Mother of God with praier and teares vntill he got his hand-writing out of the diuells hands He obeyed very desirous of saluation and security with vndoubted hope to obtaine it by the intercession of the B. Virgin Mother of God Wheruppon prostrating his body before the B. Virgin with flowing teares he earnestly besought her that she would vouchsafe to get him his wicked hand-writing and to worke his saluation and health By a great Miracle he had his desire For as he repeated these verses with all deuotion A Mother shew thy self He take our plaints by the That being for vs borne Vouchsaft thy Sonne to be He saw the hand-writing fall suddenly into his hands and scarce crediting himself for the vnexpected ioy therof with new teares he gaue manifold thankes to the B. Virgin WheruppoÌ„ departing presently out of the sacred Chappell he went ioyfully vnto the Priest and shewed him his hand-writing gotten againe by the benefit of the Mother of God which was stuffed with so many horrible execrations and curses against Christ himself that wrote it that it may easily appeare to be dictated by the euerlasting enemy of mankind Notwithstanding the power of God more poteÌ„t than all diabolical deceipt loosed so great a band wherby that sinnefull
darknes was suddenly taken away and he recouered his desired sight The thing is well witnessed For he came to Loreto the yeare 1564. and brought with him the letters of Annibal Cassalius the Protonotary Apostolicall Vicar of Fauentia in witnes of the miracle The B. Virgin cureth two that were dumbe restoring to the one the vse of his tongue and to the other his tongue when it was cut out CHAP. XI THE B. Virgin was not more bountifull to the blind Annal. Laur. Rier then to the dumbe A little boy of Iohn Vbaldus of Padua a famous Captaine in the warr was so troubled with the falling sicknes that it tooke from him the vse of his tongue And hauing layne three yeares both dumbe sicke the father of the child despayring of help by meanes of Phisitians implored the help of the B. Virgin of Loreto in behalf of his sonne and his prayer was heard For in continent the child did not only recouer his former speach but also health of body by miracle Whereupon his father brought him to Loreto the yeare 1563. that both might giue due thankes to the B. Virgin Mother of God and performe their vow who related the whole matter to the Gouernour of Loreto and to many others But this is most admirable The president of Abruzzo comming to Loreto went out of his way to go to Cluitella where he apprehended a wicked man vsing now and then to vtter impious speeches against Alm. God the B. Virgin of Loreto Wherewith the PresideÌ„t being incensed to great wrath for example sake presently reuenged his filthy â—aÌ„guage by cutting out his sacrilegious tongue And not contenting himself with this he deliuered him ouer to prison commanding him to be carefully kept vntill he returned from Loreto that then he might determine whether he deserued to be punished with greater torment But the poore wretch being in great paine with the inflicted punishment and also solicitous for that which was past at last repeÌ„ted turning wickednes into reuerence vsed all diligence both day and night to mitigate the B. Virgin of Loreto by silent prayer vow beseeching her to asswage the Viceroyes anger against him to giue him meanes to cleanse his soule of sinne by sacred ConfessioÌ„ The praier of the wicked man repeÌ„ting and detesting his fault did not mislike the B. Virgin of Loreto For within a while the Mother of God appeared vnto him in his sleepe bidding him be of god comfort for in short time he should be deliuered out of prison that he might go to the House of Loreto and there confesse his sinnes by means of a new tongue The euent approued the prediction When he awaked a certaine tongue as it may seeme began to grow againe by which he vttered the conceite of his mind without any difficulty at all And the Viceroy returning from Loreto and vnderstanding of the matter thought good to pardoÌ„ him whom the B. Virgin herself had pardoned Therfore in coÌ„tinent he set him at liberty hereafter aduising him to be wiser by his owne perill and giuing him letters to the Penitentiaries in token of the miracle he sent him to Loreto to performe his vow When he came thither not only the Viceroyes letter but also the thing it self witnessed the miracle to all For when he opened his mouth a wonderfull thing to be seene they saw that his tongue was cut out and that a certaine little tongue did grow vnderneath in place of the other wherewith when he himself would albeit with stammering they heard him speake This was not all For returning home and receiuing the sacred mysteries twice or thrice a new tongue increased by a new miracle to the iust bignes Wheruppon comming againe to Loreto to giue due thankes to the Mother of God to the very same who a little before had seene his tongue cut out wherof Raphaell Riera who set it downe in writing was one he shewed it growne out againe by the immortall gift of our B. Ladie to the admiration and wonder of all extolling the B. Virgin for so notable and so worthie a miracle A Iew is deliuered out of prison by the B. Virgin and baptized at Loreto CHAP. XII THE B. Virgin of Loreto did not onelie make the Christians Annal. Laur. Rier but also the Iewes partakers of her benignitie and help A certaine Hebrue of Nazareth a man in other respects graue and wise dwelled at Nazareth in the verâ—e street where as we said before the impressions of the House of Loreto were yet in the ground to be seene who by neernes of the place of which by report he had heard many admirable things had gotten some sparkle of religion For knowing that the Christians did reuerence Mary his Cittizen with great deuotion and respect he also began to honour her and for the same cause was not far from belieuing in Christ himself But as they are a kinde of people hard and peruerse he continued in the old superstition wherin he was inured from his Childhood by continuall vse But at last extreme miserie bowed his obstinate mind For at 60. yeares of age he being apprehended by the Turkes for what wickednes I know not and condemned to perpetuall imprisonment he pined away with miserie and despayring of bodilie health began to thinke of his soule And hauing a great care and zeale of saluation inspired into him from aboue he prayed suppliantlie for pardon to God the Creâ—tour of the world whereby obstinacy was ouercome by myserie and heauenlie light shined to his blinded mind Therefore with great deuotion he called on Iesus the Messias of the Christians on Marie the Mother of the Messias When he had sollicitouslie doÌ„ne so he weÌ„t to bed full of hope and confidence and his hope was not in vaine For the same night Christ appearing vnto him in his sleepe the Nazaren knowing him by the similitude in which the Christians did worship him he confessed him to be the true God the Messias of the world and suppliantlie adored him in his sleep And presentlie the likenes of a Virgin of exceeding beautie and maiestie was also represented vnto him by whose coÌ„mand an other Virgin her coÌ„panion vnloosed him out of the irons wherwith he was fettered and opening the doores of the prison brought him to the hauen yet fast asleep but seeing in his dreame what was donne in verie deed Then the more powerfull Virgin seeming to be the others Mistresse shewed him a boat in readines and said vnto him Now thou art free therfore be mindefull of thy Deliuerefle for beholde I haue prepared thee a meane to escape neither will I faile to helpe thee as thou fliest away â—or thy part go to Loreto which is a Towne of Picene in the Prouince of Italie there receiue Christian Baptisme and offer vp thy self at the Altar of Mary with purpose of better life And the Iew giuing thankes to both but chieflie to her who seemed the worthier