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
of Lasturo a Village of the State of Venice lay sicke not far from Bergamo of an incurable disease and the anguish of his infirmity wherwith he was most miserably vexed brought with it cruell and almost perpetuall paine in all his members Therfore despayring of help by Physitians he inuocated the B. Virgin of Loreto giuing himself wholy vnto her by vow which if he obtayned he promised to performe with all speed His vow had effect Being giuen ouer by the Physitians he did not so much wrestle with the disease as with death it self But suddainly in the very agony he had present help For our B. Lady as it were vnlooked for appearing vnto him in the same shape wherein she is reuerenced at Loreto which before that time he neuer saw so much as in picture and bidding him be of good comfort replenished him with great ioy and comfort Wheruppon out of hand for deuotion sake the sicke man endeuoured to kneele downe on his bed as well as he could and with great confidence in this exceeding dāger of death began to implore the assistance of the Mother of God And she with a meeke a motherly countenance said vnto him Sonne put away feare thou shalt not dy of this sicknes be thankfull mindfull of thy Vow For which cause calling to his houshold that they might hasten thither to reuerence the Queene of Heauen with due deuotion our B. Lady went suddainly out of his sight And the promise was performed on both sides For the sicke man recouering a litle after came to Loreto to performe his vow the 90. yeare of this age where leasurely viewing the Image of the Mother of God he affirmed to those to whome he related this miracle that the B. Virgin appeared vnto him in his sleep in that very forme attire that you may thinke that shape and habit was pleasing to our B. Lady A Knight of Flanders being deliuered from his enemies by an euident miracle dedicateth a wax-candle of huge bignesse to our B. Lady of Loreto CHAP. XVII Vict. Brig ABOVT the same time a Knight of Flanders presented to the B. Virgin of Loreto For a gift a votiue candle of huge bignes to wit of 300. pound weight in token of a miracle almost incredible The cause of his vow gift was this The said Knight his name is not set downe for he himself would haue it concealed escaped manifest perill of life in Flanders by help of our B. Lady who by commandment of the Prince of Parma going on improuidently with eight horsemen to view the coast fell into the ambush of the enemy The enemies were about eight hundred some horsmen some footemen who quickly spreading themselues abroad tooke from thē all hope of escape Notwithstanding the Fleming wanted not courage For inuocating our B. Lady of Loreto and animating his fellowes therūto they valiantly fought with them their confidence in the B. Virgin preuailing so much with them that it easily put away the cogitation of so great danger Such was the courage and strength which was giuen to that small company by the vertue of the heauenly help which they besought not failing them in their fight For when on euery side they were assaulted with so many handes and weapons of sundry sortes by the protection of the Mother of God they sustayned the violence of their enemies the multitude of their weapons so long till the Spanish forces came to rescue them and then the danger turned on their enemies themselues wherof many were slayne or taken And that there may be no doubt at all of the vertue of the heauenly help neither the Knight himself nor any of his fellowes nor yet any of their horses were hurt the least iote in so cruell a fight which held for the space of two houres that you may thinke they fought vnder the protection of God who fighting for them made them to ouercome In regard wherof the Knight desiring to haue a perpetuall monument of so worthy a miracle to remayne at Loreto sent the wax-candle of huge bignes wherof I haue spoken with intent that on certaine festiuall daies it should burne before the Maiesticall House of the B. Virgin And it is said that he also gaue a certaine stipend that when the same was consumed an other candle of like bignes should be put in his place for euerlasting memory to posterity A deafe-man recouereth his hearing CHAP. XVIII THIS which I am to relate is not so meruailous Annal. Laur. Rier Vict. Brig but better witnessed Erasmus Deane of the Cathedrall Church of Cracouia in Polonia being deafe in either eare heard almost nothing at all so that they must deale with him not so much by wordes as by signes But before his hearing was taken from him by report he had heard many admirable things of the B. Virgin of Loreto and seeing he could get no help by means of physicke and that the heauenly vertue of the House of Loreto came often to his mind much grieued and perplexed with the infirmity it stirred him to come to the sacred House of our B. Lady that with great confidence he might say Masse in the most Maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin and implore her help where he found most present remedy for his griefe For assoone as he had ended Masse he perceiued that his left eare was opened and cured and the next day saying Masse in the same place he likewise recouered the vse of his right Whereby he who came to the most sacred House halfe deafe or rather deafe indeed within two dayes departed thence full glad to haue recouered the perfect vse of hearing Andrevv Bētiuoglio Gouernour of Loreto He himself told the whole matter with teares of ioy to Rutilius Benzonius the Bishop to Andrew Bentiuoglio Gouernour of Loreto on the Nones of Aprill the yeare of our Redemption 1590. At which time the new Citty of Loreto being built with great speed on the inlarged space was suddainly interrupted by the vntimely death of Xystus assaied also by other Popes to small purpose For Monte-Regal was pared about and left half plained the new Houses which were crected without the old circuite be now insteed of Suburbs wherof many remayne vnfinished that you may thinke the renowme of a Citty was not pleasing to our B. Lady of Loreto who chose her self a seate in a desert place lest the fame of the Citty rather then the Religion of the place should inuite the Pilgrims to visit her About that time Andrew Bentiuoglio departing this life Fuluius Paulucius Gouernour of Loreto Fuluius Paulucius the Protonotary Apostolicall succeeded in the Gouernement of Loreto whose vertue troublesome times did both exercise and illustrate Donaries brought or sent to the B. Virgin of Loreto in the troublesome time of Gregory the XIIII CHAP. XIX SHORTLIE after in the same yeare of our Redemption to witt 1590. in the moneth of September Vrbane the vij was created Pope who
the Prophetes Sybills Apostles and Euangelists curiously inserted amōg boughes flowers with such admirable needle-worke that I dare affirme scarce any thing in this kind euer to haue beene more curious more precious more admirable For it well appeareth by her owne hand-writing that the price amounted to eight thousand Crownes Notable veiles for holy Chalices and other such like were also presented with her other gifts The testimony and gift of a Spanish Priest honoured with a miracle CHAP. XXIII ABOVT that time Alfonsus Sancius a Spanish Priest both learned and godly hauing lately returned from the East and the Ilands of China called the Philippines came to visit the House of Loreto And before he departed thence I my self found him admiring the religion of the place and familiarly asking the cause of his wonder he answered me with admiration O good God! what manner of thing is this Truly I neuer felt the like vnto this nor neuer found God more present in all my life so doth a certaine heauenly sweetnes flow into my soule in this most sacred House He also recounted vnto me how he had beene at Vadalupe Monte-Seratto and other notable Houses of the B. Virgin in Spaine but neuer felt the grace of God so present for there seemeth to be the barke but heere indeed the marrow it self And obtayning of the Gouernour of Loreto by means of Cardinall Caietan in whose company he came to remayne all night in the holier part of the sacred Cell he passed the same in watching and prayer and afterward reported to his familiar friends that in all his life he neuer spent a more pleasant and more blessed night In regard whereof he desired to grace the most Maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin with some gift of his and hauing brought with him euen from China it self a white damaske vestment with this he determined to beautify the Nicet of the B. Virgin Mother of God and the Image of Christ Crucified which came with the sacred house A taylour therfore was sent for who spreading abroad and measuring the damaske first denied that there was stuffe inough for both those purposes But Sancius vrging him to measure it againe with more diligent care he staied a while and when he had often turned it to and fro he began to affirme that at last he had found a meanes to effect that which he desired but so that those ornaments would be something shorter then was fitting Go to therefore said Sancius and follow this course if any thing be wanting our B. Lady her self will supplie it He obeyed and lest there might be any suspition of errour he had the old ornature of the Nicet at hand according to which he determined to make the forme of the new and so cutt it out Sancius himself looking on and tooke it with him to his shoppe But the next day assoone as it was light the tailour came vnto him crying out like one dismayed Without doubt our B. Lady hath wrought a miracle in her ornament For the new furniture of her Nicet which yesterday was too short is now longer by a handfull Sancius followed the man into his shoppe to belieue his owne eyes and not his wordes and found that he reported no vntruth neither could he deuise any thing to hinder it from a miracle For he saw that the veile of the Crucifix which he caused to be made was iust and nothing at all diminished and the damaske was made of a certaine strange worke that the deceit of adding such as ours is could not deceiue one skilfull in such things albeit in such things no feare is to be had of adding but rather of diminishing Sancius himself with many others stood by the taylour when he measured and cut out the vestment that it may be euident no errour was committed by improuidence wherfore by him and others it was holden for a Miracle but we will leaue the thing indifferent Bracelets which were offered to the B. Virgin do fasten themselues on the hands of Christ her little Child CHAP. XXIV BVT this is not so meruailous for the gift it self as for the euent therof Beatrice Gazea a Matron of great delicacie and riches was married to a most worthy Cittizen of Rome who for deuotion comming to Loreto in the moneth of May the 93. yeare of this age forthwith went into the inward part of the sacred Cell where the most religious Image of the B. Virgin of Loreto holding the sweet child IESVS in her lap is scene and reuerenced neere at hand which is adorned with a most precious garment and decked in magnificent sort Praying there with feruour to Christ and his B. Mother Gazea had a great desire to behold the countenance and ornature of the B. Virgin with more attention And blaming the imperfection of her sight requested the keeper who at that time was Papyrius N. to shew her the Image of the Mother of God more exquisitly with the light of a torch He willingly condescended vnto it For with a burning torch he shewed her the B. Virgin and at her intreaty told also who gaue all the donaries that were about her Among the rest there was a frōtlet of oriēt pearle of good bignes and beauty dedicated to the B. Virgin by a Matron of Rome who being giuen to many delightes and pleasures lately departed this life albeit of a cruell kind of death yet very Christianlike and godly Beatrice hearing this woman named and knowing her familiarly forthwith burst into admiration Behold the cause why she by the grace of the B. Virgin had so godly an end of her delicate life Then turning to the keeper And I said she would willingly dedicate these bracelets then the which I esteeme nothing more to Christ and his B. Mother if I thought that the gift of a wicked woman would not be vngratefull vnto them The keeper animated the woman seeming too fearfull saying that Christ was the Sauiour and Marie the Patronesse of the wicked Wheruppon in continent she pulled of her bracelets made of antique worke of iewells and gold and gaue them to the keeper to be offered to Iesus and his B. mother And presently the Keeper tooke a little forke prepared for such vses and put theron both the bracelets to direct them to the most sacred Statua intending to hang them on the erected singers of the right hand of the sweet child Christ Iesus for at that present there was no fitter a place But as he was drawing backe the sticke he obserued that one of the bracelets remained on the forke and that the other hauing passed the singers of the sweet child Iesus was fastened on his hand so fitly that fitter it could not be A meruailous thing Though the Keeper saw it yet he thought it might be donne by chance But afterward putting the sticke thither againe nothing moued out of his place To hang there also the other bracelet there happened another vndoubted miracle For by little and
to the high way which seeming to concerne the dignitie and reputatiō of the Cittizens of Recanati they charged the gouernour of the Cittie that with a great companie of souldiers he should make the waies that went to the House of Loreto secure from theeues And as their counsaile was godly so had it good successe For the Gouernour him selfe most diligētly searching the most hidden lurking places of the wood put the malefactours to death in short space purged all that countrey with great commendation whose praise redounding to the Cittie that made him Gouernour from that time the Cittie of Recanati was surnamed the Most Iust Shortly after a new calamitie of those times and the neglect of sacred thinges S. Anto. Par. 3 Plat. in Clem. 5 The Pontificall sea is translated into France made the pietie of the people of Recanati very famous Whiles these things were done in Picene Clement the 5. the third Pope after Bonifacius for Benedict the 11. the successour of Bonifacius was Pope but a few moneths the 5. yeare of that age translated the Apostolicke Sea into France to the great detriment of Italy and almost of all the Christiā comon wealth which doubtles the casuall burning of the Laterā Church at that time did portend to the Cittie of Rome For whiles Clement the Roman Bishop established a new Sea at Lions the Lateran Church at Rome being the ancient seat of the Roman Bishops was set on fire whether by malice or by chāce it is not known Neither was the state of Italy much better vnder Iohn the 22. who succeeding Clement established the Pontificall Sea at Auinigon nor vnder Benedict the XII nor the rest of the Roman Bishoppes who afterward through Iohns exāple sate at the same place But the pietie and deuotion of the people of Recanati did flourish in building of a new Church to our B. Lady this most distressed time both of all the Christian and specially of their owne common wealth For of late that is to say the yeare of our Redemption 1322. the Cittie of Recanati was throwne downe by commandment of Iohn the XXII because it had reuolted from the Pope Ioan. Villar lib. 9. and the Cittizens compelled to prouide them dwelling in an other place But when they had made their agreement with the Pope and built their towne in that place where at this present it standeth their wealth was almost consumed either with the ouerthrow of their Cittie or els with bulding this new towne Yet notwithstanding their deuotion to our B. Lady their Patronesse prouoking thē they intēded to build a Church about the Chappell of Loreto For when the adioyned cloisters could neither containe the Pilgrimes their tablets nor votiue Images by reason that they and their donaries daily increased the Bishop of Macerata in whose Diocesse Recanati was with great approbation of the people of Recanati wēt about to build a Church about the most sacred Chappell For which purpose easily obtaining a great space of ground lying there about he pulled downe the Cloisters and at the common charge built a new Church from the foundation low indeed for the greatnes The sacred House is inuironed vvith a Church but wide and large inough wherunto he adioyned larger houses for the Priestes and ministers to dwell in and for the hospitalitie of the better sort of Pilgrimes there also shortly after erecting an hospitall for the reliefe of poore Pilgrimes VVhen Benedict the XII had adorned the new Church of Loreto with Indulgences it was frequented with greater deuotion CHAP. XIX WHEN the Church was finished a greater ornament was done vnto it For the Cittizens of Recanati making humble request to Benedict the 12. to grantremissiō of sinnes to all that rightly visited the Church of Loreto Hero Angel The Indulgences of Benedict the XII easily obtained it From which time so great feruour was enkindled in the hartes of the people of Recanati that most of thē would not be hindered almost by any busines to go euery day three miles to visit the House of Loreto for so far is it distant from their towne Moreouer euery morning assoone as the little children came out of their chābers their parents and nourses taught thēto turne them selues straight towardes the natiue House of the B. Virgin deuoutly to acknowledge and salute the mother of Loreto But old and sicke folkes being hindered with age or sicknes not able to go to the Church of Loreto as the custome was procured that the Image of our B. Lady of Loreto expressed in colours should be sett vp in the market place about which building a Chappell and an Altar they obtained of Benedict aforesaid a Breue ingrauen in golden letters wherin was granted remission of sinnes to them that prayed at the said Altar Hierome Angelita one of the Magistrates of the Cittie of Recanati who flourished about 70. yeares agone affirmeth that himselfe hath seene the same Breue defaced with rottennes and antiquitie Moreouer the Bishop of Macerata who at that time was also Bishop of Recanati thinking it good to deliuer to Posteritie the true relation of the House of Loreto tooke order that a litle booke might be published wherin was cōtained the admirable comming of the most sacred House into Italy her triple transmigration in the territories of Recanati and the chiefest wonders and miracles of our B. Lady of Loreto And because the people of Recanati had a speciall desire to imprint in the hartes of tender yeares great deuotion towardes the B. Virgin of Loreto they made a Decree that all schoolemaisters in teaching the first principles of learning should first inure childrens eares and mindes with such discourses and by little little should accustome tēder age to the reading of that little booke which ingraffed in them an exceeding deuotion pietie towards the natiue House of the B. Virgin The state of the House of Loreto whiles the Roman Bishops sate at Auinigon CHAP. XX. BVT what deepe impression the religion of the House of Loreto made in the harts of the Picentians at that time this one thing may shew that being nothing almost furthered by the Roman Bishops it flourished of it selfe For about that time as before hath bene said the Roman Sea passed into France And because the Pope was absent from the Cittie and from Italy it selfe the House of Loreto wanted many ornaments furderances which now it hath and then also had had but that this most sacred House ennobled with so many miracles and signes was so far frō the sight and intelligence of the Popes But euen in that state she wāted not their Pontificall ornaments albeit the Pōtificall Sea was the onely cause that she was not so much adorned as not neglected of the Roman Bishops whiles they sate in France For when Benedict the XII had graced the House of Loreto with a gift of Indulgences Clement the VI. his Successour being absent from the Cittie for he sate
described required great peeces of the same he commanded that they should be fetched from Carrara which is a quarrey of white marble of most estimatiō in all Liguria not regarding the charges he tooke order that Ligurian marble should be layd into vessells to be brought about a long circuit for it must needes be conueyed by the Inferū and Superum seas almost all the coast of Italy as long as it is which at last being vnladen either at Ancona or els at the hauen of Recanati were carried to Loreto in cartes where they were polished with the antique worke of the Greekes and Romans by the rarest workmen of that age hired with great expences Meane while Leo bestowed no small benefit on the Church of Loreto The gift of Leo the X. to increase the maiestie and religion of the place For to make the representatiō of the Seate of Loreto more maiesticall God Laur. he made Peter Antonie Perotto the Gouernour when he celebrated Masse the more venerable not onely with Episcopall but also with other ornature and attire and grāted vnto him whē he said Masse to blesse the people with Episcopall authoritie and priuiledge Neither was Leo more carefull to adorne the Prelate of Loreto then the Altar with Pontificall gifts Foure siluer Candlesticks of a cubite and a halfe parcell guilt and ingrauē with curious worke about 50. pound weight a square Canopy were the worthy Donaries of Leo. About the same time the House of Loreto was honoured with other gifts of most noble persons Of Antonie Leiua others Antonie Leiua Generall of the Spanish Armie sent for a gift a vestment of damaske for the Preist curiously wrought with curled gold The Queene of Hungary her owne Image of siluer as if she were praying of XXX pound weight The Marquesse of Mantua vestmēts for the Priest Ministers sacrificing with solemnitie made of siluer and gold And others presented other Donaries who although they were noble personages yet they desired to haue their names concealed in their gi t s of which these be the cheifest A siluer statua of the B. Virgin with the Image of the most sweet child IESVS holding a globe in his hand of 8. pound weight To this was added an other of equall weight like fashion differing onely in this that Christ the little Childe doth sitt in his mothers lappe holding a peare in his right hand Besides there is an other Image of our B. Lady pourtraited in siluer of XI pound weight And also an other of like weight with the ensignes of the Imperiall Eagle that it may not obscurely appeare whence it was sent A Dalmatian Priest commeth to Loreto carrying vp with his hand his bowells pulled out of his bellie CHAP. XVIII MVCH about the same time a wonderfull thing more credible for the infinite power of God then for the strangenes of the fact made the House of Loreto much more illustrious in all the whole world A Dalmatian Priest a man of true simplicitie and of great deuotion to the B. Virgin of Loreto being takē by chāce by the Turkes and by all subtill meanes vrged to renounce his religion would in no wise admitt such wicked persuasions neither into eare nor mind but greatly disdained those importunate wretches and the more to offend them freely called on Christ and likewise on Marie which they stomaking demanding why he repeated those names so often he answered because they be fixed in my bowells Wherupō the Turkes threatned that they would pull forth his very bowells vnlesse in continent he would abiure Christ and Marie You are deceiued said he my bowells indeed you may take from me but Christ and Marie you cannot take from me Then in great rage they assaulted the Priest with a drawne sword who calling on the B. Virgin of Loreto made a vow vnto her that with the first oportunitie he would go to Loreto to visit her if life would giue him leaue Which speach did more enkindle the inraged Turkes for compassing him about and cutting and opening his breast they drew out his bowells tearing them from the vppermost partes and deliuered them to him selfe now halfe dead and by by as they supposed ready to fall downe scorning him in this manner Go make haste carrie thy bowells in which thou saist Marie of Loreto doth adhere vnto her as thou hast vowed And albeit it exceed all credit which we are now to deliuer yet neither the power nor the goodnes of Almightie God For the Priest who was readie to die God prolonging death and giuing him sufficient strength began to set forward and speedilie dispatching a iourney of many dayes came to Loreto carrying his bowells in his hand Which way soeuer he went great resort was made vnto him with desire to see and to know the matter Wherupon the Preist but cheifly to the ministers of the Church of Loreto shewing his open and emptie breast his bowells which he held vp with his hand declared breifly the whole matter leauing them all amazed with the admiration of so great a thing And when he had giuen harty thankes to the B. Virgin armed himselfe with the comfortable succours of Cōfession of the holy Eucharist in the sight and imbracements of the Mother of God as we may belieue he yielded vp his soule The very bowells of the Dalmatian Preist were hong vp hard by the most sacred Cell for strangers to behold and as soone as they were consumed with corruption counterfaite bowells made of wood and affiged in the same place remained there many yeares for a monument of that miracle But because the rude people which came to the Church of Loreto busied their mindes in such spectacles reuerenced the mother of God with lesse care thē they ought to haue donne they were at last remoued thence Yet in time of Pope Paul the III. by occasion of strengthening the pillers which support the thole the rafter on which they did hang being by chance cast downe it was decreed that a Preist holding vp his bowells with his hand and a short narration of the whole matter should be expressed in a table to preserue the memory of so great a miracle to posteritie and sett vp in the Church for all to beholde which at this day is there to be seene And the miracle it selfe is so witnessed that it is wickednes to doubt therof For many do yet liue who affirme that thē selues haue seene the bowells which were made of wood and haue heard many of the Inhabitants report that they had seene the very bowells of the Dalmatian Priest when they were fresh and in their naturall state Diuers assaultes of the Turkes are repelled from the House of Loreto by diuine power CHAP. XIX ABOVT the same time the B. Virgin shewed by vndoubted meanes how pleasing the House of Loreto was vnto her Annal. Laur. Rier Selime the Turkish Emperour and the Nephew of Mahomet comming
to spoile the euer-vnuiolated treasures of the Cell of Loreto attempted so great a wickednes with no better successe then did Mohomet his vncle long before For being puffed vp with his owne and with the victories of his ancestours he had almost all the seas pestered with his nauies purposing to subdue all Europe and the fardest partes of the West vnto his Empire Wherupon through his command a great nauie of Pirates arriued in Italy after they had ransackt the shores of Dalmatia and Apulia they sayled into Picene hoping to get the spoile of Loreto where landing their men and taking the Castle of the haueÌ„ of Recanati they desired and defaced the houses with slaughter and with fire and seeing that none did beare armes against them the miscreants made hast to Loreto it selfe But they quickly perceiued that the Sacred House forsakeÌ„ of mortall ayde was protected guarded with heauenly defeÌ„dants for the very sight of the House of Loreto stroke so great dread into them that out of hand forgoing their attempt they retyred backe vnto their nauie nothing at all doubting but that very House deare to heauen it selfe was defended by the celestiall power And Sclime the author of this attempted mischeise not loÌ„g after perished of the canker miserably consumed by the wrath of God with a most filthy and lothsome disease Yet this misfortunate end of Sclime did not represse the boldnesse of others for afterwards certaine that had beene Captiues in Turkie escaping by flight and comming to Loreto to performe their vowes to the B. Virgin reported that the Archpyrats whome themselues had serued suÌ„dry times set forth towards Loreto with a furnished nauie intending to robbe and to spoile the Church But assoone as they came in sight of the most sacred House they were brought into such suddaine feare by miracle that they were compelled to retire coÌ„fessing indeede that there was some secret diuine power wherby audacity turned to veneratioÌ„ For when this wonder was diuulgated and knowne among the Barbarians from that time the skulking Pyrats which robbed on the shores of Picene durst scarce attempt any hostility in sight of the House of Loreto much lesse approach to ransacke the House it selfe Once onely two Turkish Gallies presuming to take a prey out of the territories of Loreto presently perceiued that the B. Virgin Mother of God did reuenge her owne goods For the same day being takeÌ„ by Canaletto Captaine of the Venetian fleete they were hanged all the prey recouered the good of Loreto established by the death of those barbarous people It deceyueth the auarice of the Christian armie CHAP. XX ABOVT the same time by the protection of Almightie God the House of Loreto remained vntoucht not onely from the power of the Barbarians but also from the couetousnesse of ChristiaÌ„ souldiers Francis Maria Duke of Vrbine Annal. Laur. Rier being lately depriued of his Signiorie by Leo the X. and afterward recouering it againe by armes voluntarily ouerranne the Countrey of Picene with great spoile to reuenge as he gaue out the wrong the Pope had done him His armie was leuied of the risfraffe of many nations among whome there was neither manners nor common language and a prey was more esteemed then religion so that by the Dukes owne coÌ„mandment it could neither be well gouerned nor by any meanes persuaded from coÌ„mitting of sacriledge For many of the Captaines and Centurions hauing long and vehemently desired the sacred treasures of Loreto dealt by messengers secretly among theÌ„ serues to take them by violence and of purpose stayed all night at Monte-Faltrano not farre from Loreto purposing to ransacke the House of Loreto destitute of defence as soone as the day appeared The wicked designment of the armie was not vnknowne to the Duke both godly and wise For which cause he laboured hard by interpreters to auert the desperate Captaines of those barbarous people from their wicked determination and forced to hinder their lewd purpose by his Italian companies he did all that he could he laboured to his vttermost to turne their inflamed desire of robbing rather an other way But the eares of all being dease and stopt with auarice the greater part as many times it happeneth ouercame the better and sending before their scoutes they them selues began to march forward before it was cleere day The Duke dissuaded them againe and intermingling threates with faire speeches requested them to desist from that sacrilegious iourney when nothing preuailed he besought them if they were resolued to go to Loreâ—o to change their minds to the contrary and to go to the most sacred Cell of the B. Virgin mother of God for deuotion sake as all others did If they did otherwise he did not only threaten them with his but also with the wrath of God setting before them the late examples of the Turkes But hauing their mindes filled with furie and couetousnes and reiecting all good Counsaile they went forward vehemeÌ„tly desiring to lay hands on the spoile which alreadie in hope opinion they had wholy deuoured The Duke followed the Armie which he could not rule to mitigate the sacriledge that he could not hinder But the protection of the B. Virgin was not wanting to her most sacred Cell For the scoutes who were sent before approaching neere to Loreto and vaunting for ioy to see that all was cleere suddainly a multitude of fierce wolues that sauage beastes might represse the sauagenesse of men rushed forth of the next wood and as it were in battell order gaue an assault on the forerunners deuoured and tore in peeces most of them frighted out of their witts with the suddaine terrour made the rest to flie more desirous to saue them selues then to seeke after the prey which they went about Who assoone as they came to the first squadron halfe dead with feare with running and with wearisomnes and recouering some sparkle of life after so great feare they opened to the fellowes of their wickednes the cause of their desperate flight and terrour aduised them againe and againe to beware what they did that God was the Protectour and the reuenger of the sacred House of Loreto that so great an armie of wolues and such huge shapes of sauage beastes came not out of that wood but by miracle were let loose on the robbers of that holy House neither were they to fight so much with the armie of those beastes as with God and his Saintes But the furious guiders of the Armie scoffing with soldier-like termes at the terrour of the scoutes as vaine made haste to lay handes on their intended prey But in very deed assoone as the sacred House shewed it selfe suddainely great feare came on all the armie and like distracted people all began to tremble with the dread that God stroke into their harts Wherby their furie was so appeased that the authours of the wickednes remembred them selues and either the wrath of God or els the religion of the Church
and pardon of our B. Lady Neither in vaine For his sinne being forgiuen him and taken away by deuotion did also take away the sicknes of the body that the care might demōstrate the cause of the disease Assoone as he recouered he aduertised the Pope of the whole matter and asked his aduise what was best to be done who being well assured that the said euill happened vnto him more through to much confidence in him selfe then the indignation of the B. Virgin tempering his cōmand with godly admonitions persuaded Nerusio that vnder the authority of the Vicar of God and without any feare at all he should go forward with the worke which he had begunne and seriously admonished him to digge through the sacred walls not so much with his hammer and boldnes as armed with fasting and veneration towards the B. Virgin so at last the thing would succeed according to desire For it is not to be feared that the B. Virgin Mother of God will not haue her House to become a through-fare who will haue it open to Pilgrims not only without their danger but also for their good But the Popes authority it self could not inforce Nerusio much frighted allready with the late euill of his presumption to experience that againe which he assayed a little before with so great danger to him selfe At last because the Popes command did vrge and the delay of opening these doores hindred the building of the worke there was a yong man who seemed nothing fearfull to do it who relying on the Popes authoritie and much intreated by his friendes would aduenture the thing He was one of the Cleargie of the Church of Loreto and was called Ventura Perino who arming him selfe with three dayes fast came with his hammer very reuerently to the sacred wall About whome there flocked a multitude of strangers and of the Cleargie these solicitous of the yong mans confidence those in suspence with the expectatiō of the thing But with humble supplicatiō Perino is said to haue spoken thus Sacred House of the B. Virgin pardon Innocencie for I do not digge thee through with this hammer but Clement the Vicar of God desirous of thy ornament he coueteth to haue thee adorned he to haue thee a through-fare Therfore let it please the Mother of God which pleaseth the Vicar of God Hauing prayed thus he digged through the designed place of the wall without any punishment at all And afterward the Masons prepared with like fasting and reuerence followed him iterating his blowes with safetie and opened three dores wherof two giue free entrance and regresse to the people and the third maketh way for the Priestes to the holier part of the sacred Chappell where the Image of the B. Virgin is reuerenced neere at hand At the same time the little window being alone in the fore wall right almost against the Image was made wider to receiue the light and strenghned with brazen barres beautifully guilt And whē the rubbish was taken out the olde dore being to bigge and open in the midst of the sacred wall was also mured vp And then the new walles begā to be raised to be couered and vested with the notable Crust of the carued worke Pope Clement being holpen by the aide of the B. Virgin of Loreto doth adorne her with great care CHAP. XXIIII ABOVT that time Clement vsing all diligence to adorne the House of Loreto eschewed great danger by the protectiō of the B. Virgin Mother of God For the Cittie of Rome being taken by fraud and guile of the enemie he retyred himselfe into the Castle of Adrians Forte where the Imperialls besieging him till he was able to withstand their forces no longer he implored the help of the B. Virgin of Loreto not onely by vow but also by letters Which was to good effect for not long after he escaped from amidst the enemies bullets with safetie being in great want was relieued with three thousand Crownes of the gold and siluer of Loreto Bern. Cyril So that by double benefit of the B. Virgin of Loreto Clement escaped present danger and necessitie and at last dashing the imminent storme of war brought peace and repose to his people Being deliuered from danger of life and from feare of war he thought good not onely to giue thanks to the B. Virgin of Loreto but also as much as lay in mans power to requite it Hauing therfore inuested Charles the V. with the Imperiall Crowne at Bologna and returning backe againe to Rome he came to the House of Loreto to salute his Patronesse and deliueresse and performing his vow to God and the B. Virgin with harty thanks that the grace of so many merits towards him might not be forgotten he resolued with himselfe by all meanes to hasten on the building of Loreto to solicite the Architect masons therunto hauing a speciall desire to bring the Church at least vnto the toppe To dispatch these workes he repayed the money which he receiued in loane frō the B. Virgin wherby in his Popedome both the Bishops Pallace at Loreto was speedily forewarded and also a roofe put on the Church with the admirable thole which is as high from the roofe as the roofe from the groūd Meanewhile it was not Clements least care to finish that worthy Crust of the carued worke which as the beginnings made shew was not vnlikely to be the most curious worke of the whole world Loreto is made more healthfull by cutting downe the woods and drying vp the lakes CHAP. XXV WHILES the House of Loreto was daily more and more adorned with excellent works by cutting downe the woods drying vp the waters neere vnto it the towne it selfe was made more healthfull Bern. Cyril For at that season the aire was generally misliked by reason of the diseases and death of the Inhabitants because for the most part being marish and vnwholsome it caused such distemperature in their bodies that a good part of the yeare the inhabitants were all rhewmatike and full of fleame were weake and diseased and children cheifly were taken away with vntimely death who for the weaknes of their bodies could hardly brooke the vnwholsomnes of the next lake the grosse ayre of the place it selfe And albeit Loreto is seated on a little hill which looketh towards the South the sunne-rising yet on the West and the North being inclosed with wooddy fenns and interposed hills all the wholsome ayre was taken from it and contrary being on the other part open it admitted the vnhealthfull and grossest windes Not far of there was a plaine allwaies foggie by reason of the fennes which came by the ouer-flowing of the riuer Musion and also slymie with the winter fludds which by little and little gathering together for want of motion became noisome You may beleiue that this vnwholsome seate was pleasing to the Mother of God that the wholsomnes of her help might more appeare in an vnhealthful place But at
and Pontificall pompe and finallie for foure yeares togeather fullfilled his office in all things belonging either to diuine or humane seruice with great praise of religion and benignitie After whome succeeded Gaspar Contareno the Cardinall Card. Contareno Patron of Loreto a man famous for learning and pregnancie of wit and also a verie good Patrone of Loreto but of short cōtinuance by reason of death For whiles he worthilie gouerned the state of Loreto by Galeatius Floremonius who afterward was Bishop of Aquino with great expectation of his vertue he departed this life In whose place the Pope appointed Rodulphus Pius the Cardinall of Carpa Card. of Carpa Patron of Loreto a good Patron and of long continuance who trulie for his worthie pietie would haue gained to himself the surname of Pius though he had not receined it from his ancestours For there was neuer anie more carefull to adorne the sacred house as in the Church of Loreto and in the adioyned houses may well appeare where at this day are extant many and worthie monuments of his This meane while newes of the Turkish war being more and more spread abroad which Selime the Turkish Emperour threatened towardes Italie assoone as he subdued the kingdome of Tunis by Ariadenus Enobarbus Paul the Pope ioyned straight in league with Charles the Christian Emperour and with the Venetians and bent all his care and forces against the Turks first of all intending to prouide for the Church of Loreto but because his treasure was wasted with preparation for the war and scarcity of money hindered his godlie purpose he suffered not an occasion offered by chance to passe vnaccepted For at that time the Embassadours of Recanati came to Rome to the Pope The Embassage of the people of Recanati to Pope Paul the 3. to complaine that Loreto their ancient possession was taken from them by Iulius his Predecessour with great domage but with greater disgrace to their Cittie For who would haue thought that without a grieuous crime the Prince of Bishops and the Vicar of Christ would haue taken from the people of Recanati their most anciēt possessiō of Loreto against their wills for what desert of theirs should so shamefull a spot of infamie be laid on their well deseruing Cittie Whether because from the beginning she carefullie maynteined reuerenced with gists adorned with a Church graced with buildings for almost two hundred and fiftie yeares iustlie and holily gouerned the seate of the B. Virgin of Loreto When at anie time did the Magistrates of Recanati gouerne it with auarice or pride When was the protection of the Church of the Inhabitants or Pilgrims neglected How often haue the waies which were pestered with theeues and the audacitie of way-laiers been repressed And how often also hath the sacred house it self beene defended from hoflilitie with greate forces of armed men Beholde why the people of Recanati should willinglie recount these things For the B. Virgin mother of God transferring her natiue house into Italie chose her self a seate specially in our woode and changing the same three times within sew moneths departed not out of our territories but made three places of our liberties famous with her footsteps We therefore bestowed on her sufficient space for a Church we built the Church and the towne about her and we gaue to the Inhabitants both Magistrates and Lawes VVhich truely are of such importance and auaile so much that they may seeme to possesse that place by good right seeing they were depriued of their ancient possession without triall of their cause But if it may be thought fitt that the Vicar of God should restore to the people of Recanati the gift which God and his B. Mother bestowed vpon them indeed they will do their endeuour that neither the Pope nor they of Loreto shall repent them of the protection and gouernement of the Cittie of Recanati And that both parties may remaine satisfied the people of Recanati will refuse no condition that the most iust Pope shall impose vpon them when Paul had graciouslie heard the Embassadours he followed a certaine meane both to restore to the people of Recanati their right Loreto is restored to the Gouernment of the people of Recanati and notwithstanding to preserue the benefits of former Popes granted in fauour of the House of Loreto Whereupon with these conditions he restored to the Cittizens of Recanati their towne of Loreto exempting onely the Church and the Gouernours iurisdiction ouer townes-folkes and strangers to defend the sacred House of Loreto against the Turkes with a strong garrison to repaire the walles and fortifications as need required to make the wayes secure from theeues in fauour of the Pilgrims that came vp and downe Besides to repay into the Popes treasurie to the vse of the Turkish war eight thousand Crownes which Leo the tenth had spent in fortifying of Loreto So Loreto returned to the Iurisdiction and Gouernment of Recanati the 35. yeare of this age and about 20. yeares after it was made free by Iulius the second But assoone as Paul the Pope saw himself deliuered from the feare of this new war he thought good to enrich the House of Loreto with lands being now well defended with fortifications Whereupon by his command of the Magistrates Duûmuiri of Castro-Ficardo were purchased the woods neere to Loreto with the vineyards meadowes and Oliueries adioyning for which purchase he gaue six thousand Crownes out of his owne treasurie and also purchased other landes neere to the Riuer Musion and gaue them to the B. Virgin of Loreto A Fraternitie of Childrë is instituted to sing solemne praise laude to the B. Virgin of Loreto CHAP. III. AT that time the House of Loreto was not onelie enriched with wealth but also with Ministers For Paul the Pope verie well considering that the praiers of persect puritie were most acceptable to God and his B. Mother instituted a Colledge of twelue children where he appointed that the choicest and wittiest children of all Picene should be instructed to sing seruice with solemnitie in honour of our B. Ladie of Loreto In choosing of whome he commanded that regard should be had to the integritie both of bodie and minde and greate diligence of the best maisters to instruct them Speciall care was vsed that they might incline the most holie Virgin no lesse with the chastitie of their manners then with the sweetnes of their voices Who by the Popes appointment being brought vp and taught in a conuenient place called the Chanonry dayly at certaine houres song hymnes to our B. Ladie in her sacred Chappell beseeching peace and pardon of God and his B. Mother and intreating help and fauour for Italie against the furie of the Turks The Childrens pietie deceiued not the Pope nor the B. Virgin failed not the Childrens prayers For although the discord of the leaders made the nauie of the confederate Princes vnprofitable notwithstāding the B. Virgin herfelf brought peace
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
the money is kept and when he had prouided all things for that purpose craftily hid himself in the sacred Cell of the B. Virgin Whereuppon going about to execute his sacrilegious desire in the dead of the night he gathered the sacred Donaries of gold and siluer into one place And when he had opened the Arcke and the doores of the sacred Chappell he also assayed to burst open the leaues of the Church-doore it self which assoone as he had broken open he began to looke about to seeke the complice of his wickednes who at that very houre for so they had agreed was to be in readines in the Church porch to hide the sacred gifts and the money in an appointed place But beholde whiles he intentiuely looked about he saw a companie of armed people at hand a multitude of heauenly spirits as it was supposed watching the House of the B. Virgin whose vnexpected presence stroke him into so great feare that he speedily shut to the doores hid himself thinking they sought his life But the vnhappy man hauing escaped that danger as he thought and auarice egging him on began to aduenture the thing againe Wheruppon opening the dores of the Church againe and the third time to seeke out the complice of his mischiefe allwaies that heauenly company met him in armes and with all speed forced him to fly againe into the Church Hauing thus spent the night betweene hope and feare at last he was more sollicitous of his life then of the prey and determined to depart without his purpose For the morning being ready to approach he assayed to get away by a back doore of the Church but still being frighted with the encounter of that heauenly watch which we haue mentioned he fled back againe into the most sacred Cell where remained manifest signes of his attempted sacriledge that the place which was the witnes of his wickednes might also manifestlie declare the same And the keepers of the most sacred Chappell comming vpon him vnawares and finding the dores broken open and the sacred Donaries gathered into one place began easilie to suspect his intent and purpose And the lewd fellow himself trēbling with a guiltie cōsciēce seeming to discouer his intended wickednes was straight apprehended and being examined confessed the whole matter Wherefore with the partner of his filthie sacriledge he suffered deserued punishment to be no small document of the prouidence of Almightie God towards the well-fare and good of the sacred House of Loreto Two yong men are deliuered from the seruitude of the Diuell CHAP. XXXII MOREOVER other wicked and almost forlorne men were reduced to an honest life and to the way of saluation by the help of the B. Virgin of Loreto There was a certaine yong man as notorious for his birth as for his wicked life who in a quarrell receiued a grieuous wound in his knee for offending Alm. God for which cause he could not cure the wound vntill he began to mitigate the wrath of God For hauing wasted good part of his substance in physicke and surgerie the cure was more likelie to bring him into feare of greater incōuenience thē any good hope of recouerie Annal. Laur. Rier wherby he mightilie feared speedie death or at least perpetuall lamenesse For which cause reiecting help of Surgeons he put all his hope and trust in the B. Virgin of Loreto and repenting with teares the truest signes of pennance began to pacifie the wrath of God and to implore the help of his B. Mother making this vow vnto her if he escaped this danger he would go to the House of Loreto with gifts to giue her thankes A wonderfull thing to be sayd Speaking these wordes with great repentance of minde the wound was presentlie cured and he recouered perfect health of bodie But health restored to an vngratefull and dissolute man was almost his destruction who quite forgetting so great a benefit thought it not inough to neglect his vow vnles he also abused the benefit of his recouerie with the licenciousnes of his former life For being inclined to worser things at last he came to that passe by giuing himself wholy to lust that he had scarce the grace to repent So much were his later workes worse than his former He had beene vndone if Alm. God had not looked on the out-cast man and by heauenlie fauour brought him againe into the way of saluation For shortlie after he seemed to heare a silent voice bidding him go to Loreto and speedilie performe the vow which he had made and then lo he obeyed and went to Loreto to worship the Mother of God with gifts But no small thing to be spokē of preuented the fruite of his votiue pilgrimage For lust had so thralled him vnto her that still sticking in the same filth he refused to go to Confession though Alm. God reached forth his helping hand Yet because his conscience pricked him and permitted him to haue no rest first he began to go round about the sacred House of the B. Virgin and the place appointed to heare Confessions then leasurelie to view the forme of the Church and the votiue tables hanging about the walles within a while by impulsion of the wicked diuell he also departed out the Church it self but presently by heauēly grace returned thither againe You would haue thought he had beene mad and distracted in minde so far did it repēt him sometimes of his purpose sometimes of his pēnance And being scarce well in his wittes he was so disquieted in mind and in bodie that he could neither abide the sight of the Priests nor the remorse of his owne conscience And also being in great perplexitie and doubtfull what to doe he remayned three dayes in these cogitations But at last through the goodnes of God and his B. Mother new zeale of saluation was enkindled in him For by chance being present at diuine seruice he seemed to heare a voyce frō heauen blaming his delay commanding him to go to one of the Priests there prepared and to disburden his soule of his offences with purpose of better life That voice pierced and bowed his obstinate minde and so at last being ouercome or rather ouercōming all impediments he peesentlie changed his minde◠and did as he was commanded Whereby getting happilie out of the sinke of lust he washed away all the blemishes of his life with great aboundāce of teares and reioycing with heauenlie ioy as men are wont to doe gaue manifolde thankes to God and his B. Mother that he was twice deliuered from imminent danger of bodie and soule by her protection and fauour There was the like condition of an other yong mā the euēt not vnlike who being wholie giuen to lust those things that follow it in short time spent all his Fathers substance in wickednes filthines of life whiles he striued to bring himself to all naughtines dishonestie at last the matter came to that passe that he was
hanged yet giuing time to prouide for their soules as the manner is Wheruppon Thomas hauing rightly purified his soule by sacred Confession inuocated the B. Virgin of Loreto and making a vow put his necke into the halter with vndoubted hope of heauenly help The rope was fastened to the end of the yard of a shippe and the yard was lifted vp with Thomas hanging theroÌ„ hauing great weight of iron tied to his feete Wheruppon the hangman hoysing vp the vard suddainly letting it fall againe of purpose three or foure times squatted the body of him whome he was executing whereby all thinking him to be dead for he had hung foure houres he was taken downe from the torture to be buried But albeit this which we are now to deliuer may seeme to surpasse all credit yet trulie neither the power of God nor his B. Mother For he who was thought to be dead was found aliue and lusty when the souldiour who was his companion in punishment and vsed in like manner of torture had giuen vp the ghost Thomas therefore leauing all astonished with the admiration of so great a wonder went forthwith to Loreto to giue due thankes to God and the B. Virgin by whose immortall benefit he was preserued in this mortall life And the thing remayneth well witnessed among the Priests of Loreto Knowing many more not vnlike to this I passe them ouer because they seeme not so well witnessed as to be deliuered to memory by him who will set downe nothing without good ground Two are deliuered from very great danger of death CHAP. XX. BVT this is well knowne and witnessed Annal. Laur. Rier though seldome heard of from the time of the Apostles that the old example of Peter the Apostle deliuered out of prison by miracle in a sort should be renewed in our time The yeare after Christs Natiuity 1570. a certaine person Noble both by bloud and deedes Authors deliuer not his name I thinke that himself would haue it suppressed was detayned in irons by one of the chiefest Peeres of Italy and charged with false crimes before a wicked and a wrathfull Iudge Therefore without doubt thinking that he should be put to death he called on the B. Virgin of Loreto beseeching her that before he departed this life he might haue opportunity to visit the Cell of Loreto And the godly prayers of the innocent were pleasing to the Mother of God For in the night sound sleepe came vpon his body oppressed with anxiety of mind and in his sleepe a beautifull shape of our B. Lady of Loreto was presented vnto him who mollified his mournfull hart with great ioy and presently breaking of his fetters and opening the dores of the prison by miracle that which was donne out of sleepe was shewed to him that was a sleepe compelled him to go out of the prison admiring the wonder of so great a thing and after he was set at liberty brought him to the next street of the Citty yet fast a sleep and then in continent vanished out of his sight Wherwith the man awaking and seeing himself deliuered out of irons and prison it self perceiued that no vaine imagination was shewed him in his rest Therfore giuing harty thankes to the B. Virgin and exulting with ioy after so great sorrow he aduentured to go vnto his owne House But knowing that he should be sought with great diligeÌ„ce by the Officers of the Prince to be punished more cruelly as a fugitâ—ue calling againe on the B. Virgin of Loreto he did a memorable act Betimes in the morning hauing before armed himself with heauenly confidence of his owne accord he went vnto the enraged Prince who was greatly astonished to see him and related vnto him the whole matter in order as it happened Neither did the B. Virgin faile to help her Client in so great danger For the Prince thought it sacriledge to hurt him whome the Mother of God would haue to be saued supposing that it was no small token of his innocency and being assisted with heauenly grace Seeing saith he the B. Virgin of Loreto hath deliuered thee by so great a miracle I also by my senteÌ„ce do deliuer thee Go therfore and make hast to that most maiesticall Cell as thou hast vowed and remember to make the Mother of God fauorable vnto vs. The innocent man being bound by double vow came to Loreto to wash away his offences by CoÌ„fession where he ioyfully performed his vowes to our B. Lady related so worthy a miracle to Riera the Penitentiary who deliuered it to writing for euerlasting memory to posterity At that time a Gentleman of Spaine whose name we suppresse to saue his credit being condemned to die for a wicked fact wherof he was guilty was kept in prison hourly expecting execution In the meane time the B. Virgin of Loreto comming to his minde of whose wonderfull vertue he had heard much talke long since in Italy by report of others made him to conceiue good hope of life and liberty and to beseech pardon of God his B. Mother and to intreat mercy help of both making this vow with his praier assoone as possibly he might out of Spaine where then he was he would go a foote to the House of Loreto liue by almes like a poore Pilgrim An incredibile thing to be said within three houres the iudges being reconciled to the delinquent by miracle reuoked and disanulled the sentence and deliuered the offender from punishment and prison But hauing made this vow in his feare in his security he was so vnmindefull therof that he had almost forgotten so great a benefit with long delay had not Allmighty God iustly reuenging him for his irreuerence punished his delay and his forgetfullnes For as he was shooting of an hargabuse the iron barrell breaking in his hands without any harme at al put him in mind both of the present perill auoided by heauenly protection and also of the old benefit and vow Whereuppon in continent true deuotion the dread of God offended with him entring into his hart without furder delay made him to set forward towards Loreto as he had promised to performe his Vow to the Mother of God where he himself declared the whole matter to the said Riera euen as I haue related it The manifold help of the B. Virgin of Loreto in the victory gotten of the Turkes by sea CHAP. XXI AT those times in the extreme danger of the Christian State the power and help of the B. Virgin of Loreto was most notable For wheÌ„ Selime the Turkish Emperour had taken Cyprus by force of armes he threatned destruction to the rest of the State of Veniâ—e and of the Christian world Therfore Pius V. thinking to withstand the common danger with common forces ioyned with the Venetians and with the King of Spaine against the Turkish war and began to make great preparation for it Duke Marcus Antonius Columna most illustrious among the Romanes for
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
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
conscience he returned vnto the Priest with weeping eyes to wash away his sinnes aswell with teares as by Confession and at last hauing rightly purified his soule he went to the Maiesticall Cell of the B. Virgin shamefastly and fearfully A wonder to be spoken The entrance which was shut vnto his impudency was opened to his shamefastnes A certaine man intending to commit murder in the House of Loreto by miracle is changed to the contrary CHAP. XXVII ABOVT the same time there happened an other not vnlike to this An honest and a rich Cittizen of Ascolo hauing a sonne the seauenth moneth of his new marriage committed him to a Nourse to be brought vp and because he was his onely child and borne before the time he did often visit him with great sollicitude and care But it chanced that suddaine death tooke away the weake child without the Nourses fault Who well knowing what danger she was likely to incurre by the father of the Child a man of fierce disposition forthwith fled secretly to Loreto putting great confidence in the Mother of God Her hope deceiued her not For when he saw his onely child dead he was so enraged with griefe and wrath that he began to blaspheme God and his Saintes and to seeke the Nourses death But when she appeared not he turned his wrath on her husband whome he left for dead hauing giuen him many dangerous woundes Neither did his fury being once imbrued in bloud stay it self heere For knowing of the Nourses flight forthwith he tooke his weapōs made hast to Loreto and rusht into the Church with intent to kill the Nourse euen in the most sacred Cell it self before the B. Virgins face When he had searched euery corner of the Church in vaine he came to the Cell of the Mother of God where a little before the Nourse hauing washed away the blemishes of her soule very deuoutly implored the assistance of our B. Lady hyding her self vnder her protection and shaddow But this cogitation came into the mind of this furious man wholy bent to do murder If that he entred into the sacred Chappell without doubt his hart would be so mollified therewith that he should thinke no more of reuenge Therefore turning an other way he began to seeke all the corners of the Church But behold as he went to and fro like one distracted vnawares he passed by the Altar famous for the title of the Annunciation of our B. Lady which is without the most sacred Chappell vnder the window wherat Gabriell the Archangell is said to haue entred And by chance seeing the lights through the window wherof many burne continually before the B. Virgin he was so mooued with the present religion of the place that he fell downe on his knees A meruailous thing to be said The fierce and hardned man was presently so mollified that he changed his mind to the contrary wēt vnto one of the Priests laid aside his weapō fell downe at his feete told him how he desired to turne a iorney which he had vndertaken for the destruction of others to his owne saluation And in this the protection of the Mother of God was very apparant that he went vnto the same Priest to whome the nourse had gone a little before Wherby the Priest hauing sufficient notice of the whole successe of the matter as soone as he had heard the Confession of the Cittizen of Ascolo easily persuaded him being now well pacified to pardon the innocent woman and made him faithfully to promise and to shew that in good sooth he was friends with her His deedes were more bountifull than his wordes For assoone as the woman returned home he preferred her to gouerne his houshould and her husband whome he charitably cured ouer his husbandry wherby the danger turned to their good by the help of the Mother of God About the same time it was determined to remooue the Sclauonian Colledge to Rome that the students might more diligētly be instructed in good disciplyne Wherfore by commandment of Pope Clement the eight the Collegialls being called to Rome and put into the Roman Seminary in their part do mayntaine the right and title of the Sclauonian Colledge This remoouall happened the yeare 1594. which is the last of our History that it may comprehend the full three hundred yeares of the House of Loreto And these we haue chosen among many and almost innumerable things to commit to writing being content to admonish the Reader that the aboundance of the matter and miracles of Loreto is so great that so many and so great can be related by none but many more and greater may remaine to be rehearsed The Celebrity and Maiesty of the House of Loreto CHAP. XXVIII TRVELY I thinke I may do a thing worth my labour to cōclude this History of Loreto with a short rehearsall of the incredibile Celebrity and Maiesty of the House of Loreto it self There passeth no time of the yeare no moneth no day in which the Cell of the most B. Virgin is not reuerēced of many strāgers This cōmendation of piety is not proper to the Picētians Italians but cōmon to the Trāsalpines thē that dwell beyōd the seas specially to Sclauonians French and Flemings Neither do Spaniards Portugals Polonians or Germanes faile therin Notwithstanding two times of the yeare are of speciall respect for the confluence and celebrity of all people and nations the Spring and the Autumne wherof to the one the sacred Conception of God to the other the Birth of the B. Virgin Mother of God do giue beginning to the solemnity And ech doth continue three moneths all which time the House of Loreto is almost dayly honoured with great concourse of people For there is no Citty no Towne no Village nor no Streete of the Territory of Picene which doth not yearly in troupes and multitudes visit the B. Virgin of Loreto Whose example doth inuite the borderers therabout to wit of Abruzzo Vmbria Flaminia Aemilia and the rest of Italy to deserue the like praise of pietie Their manner of comming for the most part is thus The Sodalities go before euery one both beautified distinguished with their speciall Ensignes and Banners Wherof diuers besides the Image of Christ Crucified do carry before them the Image of the Mother of God and of other Saintes excellently represented The moderators of these Sodalities and the Priests with the musicke of ech company be the last of the assembly Then follow their Donaries siluer Crownets Chalices Cādles beset with money rich clothing siluer Images of Citties townes votiue tables betokening the diuine benefitts which they haue obtayned by the intercessiō of our B. Lady Many times men like vnto Angells and sometimes also like to the Prophets and Sybills prophesying of the B. Virgin are graciously placed among them with other persons singular for the presentation of their attire And last of all the disordered and confused multitude of the people doth many times