Miracles lately vvrought by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marie, at Mont-aigu, nere vnto Siché in Brabant Gathered out of the publik instruments, and informations taken thereof. By authoritie of the Lord Archbishop of Maclin. Translated out of the French copie into English by M. Robert Chambers priest, and confessor of the English religious dames in the citie of Bruxelles. — Histoire des miracles advenus a l'intercession de la glorieuse vierge Marie, au lieu dict Montaigu. English

Miracles lately vvrought by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marie, at Mont-aigu, nere vnto Siché in Brabant Gathered out of the publik instruments, and informations taken thereof. By authoritie of the Lord Archbishop of Maclin. Translated out of the French copie into English by M. Robert Chambers priest, and confessor of the English religious dames in the citie of Bruxelles. — Histoire des miracles advenus a l'intercession de la glorieuse vierge Marie, au lieu dict Montaigu. English

Table of contents

Title page

TO THE MOST HIGHE AND MIGHTIE PRINCE, IAMES BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT BRYTAIN•, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith.

THE TRANSLATOR TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader.

THE PREFACE OF THE AVTHOR.

THE HISTORIE OF THE MIRACLES WROVGHT BY THE INTERCESSION OF OVR blessed Ladie, at a place called Mountaigue, in the duchie of Brabant.

1

THE SECOND CHAPTER.

THE THIRD CHAPTER.

THE FOVRTH CHAPTER.

THE FIFT CHAPTER.

THE SIXT CHAPTER.

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.

THE EIGHT CHAPTER.

THE NINTH CHAPTER.

THE TENTH CHAPTER.

THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER.

THE TVVELFTH CHAPTER.

THE XIII. CHAPTER.

THE FOVRTENTH CHAPTER.

THE XV. CHAPTER.

Of a blynd wooman which was cured.

How blood was found, vpon the lips of the Image of our Ladie.

How a lame mayde was healed.

How a man sick of the palsey was healed.

A cure of one that was blynd and taken with the Apoplexie.

The punishement of one that scoffed at the Pilgrimage of Mountaigu.

How a Chyld that was in a consumption and blynd was healed.

One cured of the Iaunders and Squinancie.

Of a lame and impotent man healed.

Of one that had a withred hand, and how it was afterwards healed.

Of a lame young man cured.

Of a woman that was cured of many straunge accidents.

How a wenche was suddainely healed of many soares.

How a man whose legges were eaten with the canker was healed.

The healing of a bunche.

How a man that was sick of the falling euil was cured.

Of a spice of Leprosie which was there cured.

How a man bruised with a fall was cured.

The Palsey Cured.

The Healing of a certaine disease called the Scurutes.

How a mayd was healed of her legges that were swolne and ful of paine.

A meruelous cure of an incurable wound.

How an old man was cured of the falling euil.

How a man was healed of a rupture

The Curing of diuers accidents.

How an old man was healed of a great rupture

An admirable cure of diuers running sores

An Admirable cure of a person betwitched, and sore grieued with the bloodie fl•xe,

Of a lame man that was cured.

How a Religious woman that was two and fortie yeares lame was cured.

How a mayd was cured of an incurable accident.

How a certaine man was cured of the falling euill.

A miraculous cure of a certayn grief and languishing disease.

How a Religious woman of the order of S. Clare was suddenly healed of the palsey.

How a Religious woman was cured of the Cancker.

The curing of a sore which was sisteen yeares old.

How a Chyld beeing broken was cured.

A suddain cure of a laguishing disease:

The cure of a rupture.

How a wench that had the palsey, and was depriued of her wittes was healed.

The cure of a Rupture.

How a Religious woman was suddainely cured of a strange and incurable disease.

A long deafnes cured.

How a lamce wench was cured.

The sore eyes of a Chyld suddainely cured.

The cure of a sore that was fiue and twentie yeares old.

The punishement of a soldier that determined to hinder the Pilgrimage of Montaigu.

How a lame woman was cured.

How a possessed person was delu••red by wood of the Oke of our Laedie.

How a Chyld that was burst was afterwards cured.

How a blynd man recouered his sight.

How a man being nyntie yeares old was cured of a rupture.

How a yong wench was cured of the rupture.

How a woman was cured of a Rupture.

A very hard disease Cured.

A lame hand cured.

The cure of a Rupture or Hernia.

How a yong man that was borne lame, and of a monstrous shape was cured.

The Cure of a flux of long continuance.

How vpon the seuenth of September the place of Montaigu was inuaded by the Rebells of Holland.

A Cure of the Dropsy and other diseases.

A Rupture cured.

How a lame woman was cured.

A cure of a sore leg.

THE CONCLVSION OF THE TRANSLATOR.

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Faultes escaped in the printing.

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MIRACLES LATELY VVROVGHT BY THE INTERCESSION OF THE GLORIOVS VIRgin Marie, at Mont-aigu, nere vnto Siche in Brabant.

Gathered out of the publik instruments, and informations taken thereof. By authoritie of the Lord Archbishop of Maclin.

Translated out of the French copie into English by M. Robert Chambers Priest, and confessor of the English Religious Dames in the Citie of Bruxelles.

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PRINTED, At Antwarp, by Arnold Conings.

1606.

Cum Priuilegio

TO THE MOST HIGHE AND MIGHTIE PRINCE, IAMES BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT BRYTAIN [...], France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith.

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I DOVBT not (Dread So [...] ueraine) but that by some meanes the reporte of the straunge, and wonderfull things which lately haue happened in these Netherlands are come to your grace, knowledge, where at all the world bere stādeth so much amazed and astonished: but whether your Maiestie hath bene informed of at the parti [...]ularities, I iustly doubt, because I can not by any waies vnderstand, that your Highnes is any whit mouedMeta [...]li. 1. tex. 1. therewith. Aristotle saieth. Omnes hommes naturaliter scire desiderant. All men haue a natural desi [...]e to attaine to the true, & perfect knowledge of things: but the wiser, and learneder sorte are especialy adicted there-vnto, principaly, when the obiect is admirable, of weight and importance: for then as it [Page] yeeldeth vnto their spirits extraordinat [...]e contentment and perfection, so to be ignorant thereof, putteth them in hazard of error, no [...]ble domage, and confusion. Whence hath proce [...]ded the exquisit diligence and curious inquisition, which we haue seen vsed in this present matter, not onely by our Prelates, Doctors, and Professors of learning, vnto whom the direction of our soules in the way of God doth chiefly appartaine, but also by the tēporal Princes, No [...]li [...]e, and men of ciuil pol [...]cie, whose wisdome and due regard of their own credites, d [...]sdained, to p [...]rmit them selues to be led by the noses, to the future peril of their soules, together with the present disparagement of their honours, and seputations. The wh [...]ch manner of these mennes proceding in this affaire, gaue me occasion to suspect, that your Maiestie was not sufficiently informed hereof: for other wise, it is not to be imagined (consideration beeing had of the common and general opinion which men here conceiue of your Graces singuler prudence, and lite [...]arure) that your Royal wisdom would passe ouer these things as though your grace had no apprehensi [...]n or esteeme thereof, which of very many are held as most per [...]icious, & abominable, in the sight both of God and m [...]n: and of innu merable others are reputed as most venerable, and glori [...]us demonst [...]ations of our Lord his sweet loue care & prouidence [...]owardes his louing Spouse his Church▪ which he vouchsafeth to adorne in this honorable and admirable māner.

Vpon which coniecture my Gracious lord and souueraine I haue aduentured to send vnto your Princely view the authentical [...]elat on of diuers things, which in these last yeares haue happened amongst vs: a subiect vndoubtedly not vnwoorthy [Page] your ma [...]re consideration, and exquisit iudgement. And I haue laboured to translate it out of the Fiēch copie, not that I thinck your Maiestie ignorant of that language, but that by the way I might also satisfy the greedie desire of many your ma [...]esties louing subiects, who haue alredie hard the b [...]uit but yet haue not had the assured & certaine knowledge of the matter. And I am the more bold to write vnto your Maiestie of these things, considering what by others hath bin done vnto great Emperours, and kings in the like case. For I read that Pome [...]s Diuers authors vvho haue vvr [...]tten to Princes of mir [...]cles Pilate wrote vnto Tyberius Caes [...]r touching the miracles of our Lord and Sauiour. I note how the famous. Nicephorus dedicated his Ecclesiastical historie to Andronicus Paleologus the Emperour, in which historie, (amongst other things) sundrie worthie miracles are comprised. I fynd that our renoumed contrieman Venerable B [...]de directed vnto King Coolulphe his miraculous histor [...]e of our English Saxo [...]s con [...]ersion to the saith of Christ. I haue seen (to omitt p [...]oli [...]itie in this matter) the book which the Abbor & cōgregatiō of the mon [...]ks of Mōt Sorr [...] to offred vnto the French king now liuing cōtayni [...]g a narration of certaine miracles wrought at the said mont Serr [...]to. Againe I haue bin much hartned to present this relatiō [...]nto your Maiestie, in regard of the great opinion & esteeme the worthie, godly, and Prudent Princes of these Contries haue of this matter, which they haue manifested by theyr often Pilgnmages to the place of Montaig [...]e, where also by their goodly, rich [...], and stately ornaments and oblations they haue giuen a [...]l the world to vn 'erstand the high regard, and account they make hereof. But chiefly I haue ben animated here vnto, for that it is not vnknown, what extraordinarie pleasere [Page] and contentment, your Maiestie taketh to imploy your Roial labors in those things, that appertaine vnto God.

What thing [...] do more apertaine vnto God (Gracious Soueraine, then miracles▪ which is as much to say, as those workes which can be wrought onely by God, of which ranck these (where of here relation is mad [...]) are beleeued to bee, as beeing semblable vnto those diuine operations, where by the Sauiour of the world did manifest h [...]s Godhead to the world. For here your Grace may behould, how the blynd see, the deaf heare, the lame walk, the deuils are ex pelled he leaporous are made cleane, and many other painful, deformed and desperate maladies are cured.

I know it would be a great miracle yf these works would be admitted [...]f all men for miracles. Wherefore I am humbly to intreat your gracious patience, to peruse what here I haue set down in an swere of those obiections, whereby I find them ord narilie to be oppugned I feare that I shal be deemed of many to be ouer prolix, but I beseech them to consider, that it is Gods cause which I handle, and that I endeuour to informe my gracious Lord and Prince in such sorte of the veritie hereof, that with greater light and assurance he might pronounce his expected royal sentence, to the glor [...]e of God, his own honour, & inestimable commoditie of many thousands. And although I haue not here so conuenient place to vtter the hundre [...]h parte of those things which otherwise I wou [...]d therefore I intend (by our Lords h [...]lp) here after more to inlarge my self herein as occasion shal b [...] offe [...]ed▪

Who is he (gracious Soueraine) that hath but half an eye and seeth not of what consequence it is for any Societie of people to be assisted with the presence of miracles? For where miracles are seen to fauour [Page] the persons, o [...] things that appertain to their Congregation, who can deny but that God is wel plea [...]ed which them, and wel a low [...]th of their [...]ites,Psal. 71. faith and profession? Miracl [...]s a [...]e works that surpasse the power of an [...] creature Benedictus Dominus vvhat authoritie miracles haue to proue Religiō. Deus Israel, qui facit m [...]r [...]bilia solus. Blessed be the lord God of Israel vvho onely vvorketh maruclous things or miracles as the Prophet sayeth. When therefore he vou [...]hsafeth to work any miracle i [...] the desence or honour of any person o [...] any point belonging to any Re [...]igion, or beleef, such a miracle is as it were his very woord, and souetaine [...]iuine sentence, giuē vpon the same, which n [...]ne may d [...]ny, gainsay, or doubt of, without note of infidel [...]e, & saculegious blasphemie. The ho [...]y Sc [...]iptures by the deuil himself, and many Heretickes both are, and haue bene fowly and wickedly cited, and interpreted: the testimonies of the auncient holy Fathers are by diuers sects diue sly abused: the old [...]amou [...] Marty [...]s Confesso [...]s, and Virgins are chalenged of many, and as it were violently hailed into their Congregations, as yf they had bin of their churches, and professious: forme [...] general Councels, Canons of Popes, and decrees of Sinods are of sund [...]e sactions alleaged as fau [...]u [...]ing then sundrie in [...]entions: in fine, the [...]e is no proof vs [...]d by [...]he Catholi [...]ks, which the impugners of the Catholick Church d [...]aw not into their books, sermons, and disputations, but at miracles al parties must m [...]k [...] a stand, and be silent; there, God him self alone must speak, and shewe himself, for such woorks are out of all the reach of a [...]y fi [...]te and created power, none beeing able to rule the chariot of this Sunne, but onely such losuaes, as vnto whome our Lord wil vouchsafe to graūt so great authoritie, and commaund [...]e. Which the wisdome of [Page] God our Sauiour Iesus Christ wel vnderstood, and therfore he vsed this medium, proof and argument for the authoritie, and veri [...]it of his doctrine and in [...]. 15. condemnation of the Iewes ineredu [...]itie saying: Si opera non fecissem in ijs qua nemo [...]l [...]s fecis, peccatum non haberent. Yf I had not done among them workes that no other man hath don, they should not have sinne. In like manner the same Lord beeing to send his Apostles to instruct the world in a Religion1. Cor. 1. which to the Iewes was [...]eandalous, to the Gentiles meere foll [...]. & to all men passing the compasse of reason, he furnished them with the same meanes, whereby to make their hearers capable of their doctrine, and to induce them to subiect their heads and harts there-vnto. And by what eloquence or forcible persuasion was this to be effectuated? Verily by no other meanes, then that God himself should affirme, and auerre their preaching by his miraculousMat 11. ma [...]e. 3. Lu [...]. 9. working, as it is said: Conuocatis duod [...]cim distipu [...]is suis, dedit [...] potestatem spirituum immundorum, vt [...]cerent [...]os, & [...] omnem languorem & omnem infirmitatem. Hauing called his tvvelue disciples together, he gaue them povver ouer vncleane sperus, that they should cast them out, and should [...] al diseases, and al infirmiti [...]s. Which vnspeakeable goodnes and prouidence of God, if we wil duely consider, we m [...]y euidently see his incomprehensible wisdome, & loue towards vs his most vnworthie Creatures, in prouiding for our instruction in his wayes such affored meanes, whereby, to ieaine the truthe, and to auoid al er [...]our: that if al the world would haue layed their heades together to inuent a way▪ they could notGod can not vvor ke miracles for the proof of any fals religiō. haue found a more perspicuous▪ more profitable, or more glorious then this, which he of his blessed mercie hath vouche safed vnto vs, for God being he [Page] truthe it self, he cā not by his omnipo [...]ēcie giue his [...]estimonie to any error or falshood: & beeing very goodnesse it self, it is impossible that he wil permit vs to be seduced by any his extraordinarie supernatural operations, neither can he or wil he yeeld a [...]y honor to that, which in it self is euil. For as truthe is a thing perfectly good and the chyld of God, so falshood is detestable and naught, and the wicked impe of the deuil. Of which thing that renoumed & famous champion of Gods Church Sainct Augustin Aug. q. 114 de quaestionibus no u [...] & ve [...]e [...]is testamēti. had a true and perfect conceipt, Who savd: Ow [...]nes Philosophi, & sectarum inuentores, [...]sis desputationibus mu [...]cem se confuderunt. Nullus [...] alterum transie [...]s, quia vnusquisque in quo imbutus fuer [...]t permanebat. Al the Philosophers, and sectmaisters, cōfounded each other by sundrie disputes. Neuer any one of them yeelding to the other for euery one held to that vvhich once he had [...]a [...]ned. Behold the ordinarie issue of a [...]wranglings and contentions, euen amongst the wittie [...] and learneder sorte. But he proceedeth: Hinc sactumest vt Dei prouidenti [...] (cu [...]us sensus inuestigari non potest) pr [...] dications suae virtutem adiungeret, vt veritas predicationis virtutis testimonio probaretur: vt qui verbis contradi [...]erent, virtutibus non auderent. Hence it came to pas that the prouidence of God, (whose sense no man can fyud out) [...]o [...]ed power to his preaching, that the truthe of his preaching might be prooued by the testimonie of his power: that if any would ga [...]ne [...]y his woords, they should not date to contradict his powerable woorkes. And that glorious doctor S. Gregorie for his rare learning and wisdome surnamed the great, speaking of the miracles of God andGreg. hom. 1 [...] in Es [...]ch his Saincts confirmeth the same saying. H [...] quam vera de Deo dixerint, testantur miracula, quia tal [...]a p [...] [...]ll [...]m non facerent, nisi vera de illo n [...]rarent. Hovv truly [Page] these people haue spoken of God, their miracles be [...] vv [...]tt [...]es for they could never vvork such things by him, if they had not spoken truly of him. Whereby we see of what force & authoritie miracles are to persuade men to accept of that doctrine, which otherwise by their reason they can not comprehend. And the sayd holy Doctor proceedeth, adding an other point worthie the noting. S [...] [...]gitur de side tentamur, quam ex illorum pr [...]dications concepimus, loqu [...]tium miracula conspici [...]. & in side qu [...] ab ers accep [...]mus confirm [...]ur: quid erg [...] illorum miracula, nisi ipsa sunt nostra prepugnacula [...] If therfore vve be tempted about our faith, vvich [...] by their preach [...]g vve haue learned, vve behold the miracles of our Preachers, and thereby [...] confirmed in the faith, vvich from them vve haue recti [...]ed therfore vvhat other things are their miracles but that they are our fortresses! Which conclusion seemeth to be so iust, and sounded in reason, that I thinck there is none that dare so much as doubt of it, much lesse deny it.

Yet I confesse though the deuil cannot make mē to deny this euident principle, notwithstanding he endeuoureth to make voyd the force and authoritie thereof. For when he dare not coap with his armed aduersarie, if he can persuade him to cast away his weapons, he nothing doubteth but that then he shalPra [...]e [...] lus de vi [...]is H [...] [...]e [...]. lib 14 n [...]. 13. easilie subdue him. So I read that he dealt with a certayn kynde of miscreā [...]s called vv [...]denses or Poor men of Lions, who amongst diuers other their [...]wd blasphemies and heresies, were persuaded to auoue he that God neuer wrought any miracles in his Church: whereby the s [...]btil enimie iuducing them, [...]nd others by them to dispoile the Church of her miracles, it was ve [...]ie easie for him afterwards to make men dispise, what-soeuer vpon the credit of miracles [Page] the sayd Churche might argue against them. Vnto which poor wittles people certaine others do neerly approache, who although they wil perhaps confesse al such miracles as are cōtained in the bookes of holy Scripture: Yet because they thinck that not long after the tyme that those bookes were written, either [...]el gates preuailed against the rock of theCōt [...] to our sauioures promis and vvarr [...]t. Math 16 Math. 5. Church, or that the Citie builded vpon an hil, was ouer couered with some Aegyptian duskie darcknes, or els shut vp in some vnknowne caue and valley: consequētly they inferr that there neuer apeared miracles since that chāge whereby they wil haue vs beleeue that either they haue quite perished, or els haue bene wrought in [...]ugger mugger & in great secret. For as they know where smoke is there comonlie is some fier, and where they see a shadow they must confesse the presence of some bodie: so if they should graunt the perpetual course of miracles, they must also graunt the perpetuitie of that Church for which and in which they haue bin wrought.

In the discouerie of which their absurditie I mightFo [...] in his Actes & monumētes. first alledge them the testimonie of their own Fox, who telleth vs of diuers miracles appertaining to his martyrs.. But they may answer me, that Fox is fabulous, I yeeld he is so, for that he is easilie prooued so to be, and I know it would be lost and lewd labor for any to endeuo [...] to prooue the contrarieIn his vvatchevvord. Yet would I learne what they repute those benedictions to be, which Sir Francis Hastings, and almost euery preacher and gospeller affirme that God hath heaped vpon our Realme, since the alteration of Religion was made therein Yf they be but the ordinarie mercies of God, as he maketh his SunneMath. [...]. to rise vpon the good and bad, and sendeth downe his rayne vpon the iust and vniust: then they make [Page] no more for their Gospel, then the like do for the Turkes [...]: or els they can p [...]o [...]ue vnto [...]s that God hath supernaturally blessed them onely in regard of their Religion, thereby manifesting vnto them and others, that England professeth his true faith, and that his true worship onely flo [...]sheth therein: which when I see them do, then both I and they must graunt them as many miracles, as they can score vp their supernatural blessings, and consequently we both must conclude that miracles are not yet decayed. But because I know the things whereof they make this bragge [...]e of the wiser soi [...]e esteemed presumptions, phantasies, inuentions, and meet sopperie therfore I leaue it to each mannes wisdome to inferr hereof the continuance of miracles [...] be pleaseth. And I wish them rather to peruse the writings and volumes of those that haue set down the infinit miracles which by diuers holy Persons & in diuers holy places amongst Catholicks haue bene wrought. To reci [...]e here the onely bare names of those that haue most laudably emploted their labors [...]etem, would be an [...]dles trauaile: where thē should I begin? how shal I proceed? and when shal I make an end, if I would vndertake to reherse the sundrie particulatities touching this matter which in these Authors I finde registred?

But I know as they blesh not to deny so euident a truthe as is the continuance of miracles so wil they not be ashamed to contem [...]e, disgrace, and scorne al such as haue recorded them, nothing regarding the opinion o [...] esteeme▪ that either the Christian world now hath, or euer had of their wisdome, sanct [...]e, learning, sinceritie, and discretion. Yet if they wil not credit those writers who haue penned the gestes and miracles of particuler persons, & places, at leastwise [Page] let them not disdaine the publick records, and Cronicles of whole Kingdomes and nations: especiallie in such things as by the people of the said kingdomes and nations are generally held and confessed to be true; yea, which often tymes the Croniclers of other Realmes and cōmon wekhes do acknowledge & a [...]o [...]che with them, without any differēce, doubt, or contradiction.

In those publick monuments they may read how the said dominions and countries receaued first their Christianitie, & withall they shal finde, that miracles were stil a principal motiue and instigation there [...] [...]o. It is not vnknown how the faith of Christ was preached in Iurie, how it was aftervard spred through Grece, Italie, Spaine and other Cuntries, where the Apostles, a [...]d Disciples of Christ preached. I suppose few wil deny but that they did worke miracles in all places wheresoeuer they came to teach the Gospel for so it is written: Illi autem profecti pr [...]dicauerunt vbique: Domino cooperant [...], & sermone confirmd to seq [...]ē tib signis. But they going forth preached euery vvhere, our Lord vvorking vvithal, and confirming the vvord vvith signes that follovved. Let them onely peruse the later ages, and let them passe through them successiuely, by euery Nation as [...]t was conuerted. And if it please them they may began with that people which now we call French, and they shal see, that the French men hold that they receiued their faith byHi [...]c [...] rus in eius vita. Heda [...] Hist See [...]o [...]: de signis Ecclesi [...]. the preaching and miracles of S. Remigius, & others: likewise we [...]g [...]sh say that our conue [...]ion was first wrought by the [...]cuo [...]rs and miracles of. Sanct Augusti [...] the monke, & of his fellowes. The Danes and Suct [...]ns affirm that S. R [...]embertus by preaching, and working of miracles made them Christians. The [Page] People of Bahemia tel that they were conuerted by [...]. [...]. cap. 1. & 2. the miracles first of two Brethren called Cirillus and Methodius, & then of the holy Dutches Ludmilla, and of their king Venc [...]sel [...]us. The Sclauonians haue in their records that they were brought to the faith by the labors & miracles of S. Bonifacius The Polonians with their Prince Miesc [...] by meanes of a miracle were first baptized. The Hungarians by miracles, and the industrie of Adalbertus bishop of Prage and of their Prince G [...]isa became Christians. The Tarta [...]ās with their king Cassanus submitted them selues to the faith of Christ, being moued there unto by a notable miracle Almost in our age the vvest Indies began by the miracles of Martinus Valentinus and Al [...]si [...] Bertrandus to admitt the Christian beleef. And to conclude the East India by the miracles of Consaluus Sil [...]erius. of the blessed Francis Xa [...]erius, and of Gasper surnamed Belga al th [...] of the Soci [...]ie of the holy name of Iesus began lykewise to forsake their Paganisme, and to imbrace the doctrin of Christ Iesus.

What may any reasonably answer to this Historical demonstration and Chronical deduction of the perpetuitie and continuance of miracles? Wil this opposit people say for al this, that these heathens were neuer brought to make acceptance of Christ his Gospel by miracles, can they by any sufficient authors or conuenient proofs shew vs the contrarie? wil they [...] vs in the mouthes that al these are fictions, and standing stil vpon their bare & incredulous denial, giue thely to al the monuments, traditions and writers of al these kingdomes and Nations? Be it so if of force without any reason they wil haue it so, yet I wil demonstrate vnto thē (yf they wil not [...]eny theyr own w [...]tes) that they must necessarilie graunt [Page] so manie successi [...]e miracles as there haue bin cunitries and People who haue imbraced the faith without the motiue of external miracles.

For what can be more miraculous then to see so many great & barbarous nations with their Kings and Nobles, settled in a Religion by themselues and all their aunce [...]ers, ind [...]e [...] whith great Honours, riches pomp and preuileges, taught and magnified by their own Priestes, whose credit and necessarie maintenance de ended thereon: by which their pagā religion they were licē ed [...]o cōmitt almost what s [...]euer their proude, vnbri [...]eled licentious sensual appetites could desire? What could be more miraculous I say, then to see these people at the bare preaching and ass [...]ueration of some Bishops or Priests, (yea imagin & say of some superintendēts & ministers) who should teach them, that the God which they ought to beleeue & adore, i [...] three persons and yet but one God: that one of these persons is both man and God, two natures but one person: whose mother both before his birth, in his birth, and after his birth was alwayes a pure virgin, and an immaculate mayd: and that this God [...]f [...]er he had for the space of some yeares indured many mise [...]es, indignitie [...], sclaunde [...]s, and persecutions of certaine men that maligned him, was afterwards bet [...]a [...]ed to them and atached by them, and after sundrie disgrac [...]s and afflictiōs most cruelly and shamefully ha [...]ged▪ & put to death. Yea supo [...]e that these preachers should haue [...]ould then, that this God in his life tyme wrought manie miracles▪ and that [...]f [...]e [...] his death he did [...]se againe to life, and ascended vp o heauen: whether also these Pagans & Silua [...]oe [...] should come, if they would throw down their Goddes, [...]est oy their [...]emples, fortake their Priestes, abnor then sac [...] fices [Page] suffer their [...]eades to be washed in the name of God, for the remission of their sinne [...], and w [...]thal if they, would imbrace chastitie, m [...]k [...]nes, patience, penn [...]n [...], humilitie, and beleeue many things surpassing their understanding and submit them selues to diue [...]s other things contratie to their sence, yea alto gether opposit to their pride, and [...]ertie which before they enioyed. He that wil say that such people as these were brought to this, without an exceeding great miracle, yf not by many miracles, I wil not say that he is a miracle, but surely I think your Royal wisdome wil deeme and iudge him a wonde [...]ous monster.

Furthermore I beseech your Maiestie to consider if a reprobate Iewe were to demande of these negatiue people, whether they thought our Lord God did more honour, or gaue more preuileges to the new law, or to the old, that is, (as true Christians would say) to the woork of Christ, or to that of Moyses: to that which was in [...]e [...]e substāoeAlvvaies miracles in the ty me of the ould l [...]vve. or to the figure thereof: to that which was the perfection, or to that which was to be perfected? What answer I pray your Grace wil they shape him? A shame on thē if they would giue the sinagoge the vpper hand, and shoulder down the Gospel, for that were avery vnciuil or rather vngodly t [...]ick of a Gospeller. And yet the Iewe wil demonstrate vnto thé, how out Lord adomed and assisted his people and auncestours with miracles, and powrable workes aboue the force of Nature al the tyme of Moy [...]es, of their Iudges, of their kings, of their Prophets euen in the tyme of their captiuitie, [...]n the tyme of their Machabe [...] yea and of our Sau our Christ him self, as is manifest by the perpetual miracle of the Pr [...]ic [...] Pis [...]ina Yea what if the sayd Iewe standing [Page] vpon the proof and prerogatiue of miracles [...]ould therein preferre the state of those that liued onely vnder the law of Nature before vs that liue in the law of grace: For he wil tel them of the miraculousMiracles in the first state of nature. sacrifice of Abel, of the translation of E [...]ch of his perpetual miraculous conseruation in Paradise euer since, of the cōming of al kyndes of liuing creatures to N [...] his Ar [...]k of their more then admirable manner of nuriture, agreement, and abode in the same, of the waters of the vniuersal de [...]uge, of the confusion of tongues, of the destruction of Sodom and Go [...]norha, of the preseruation of Lot with his daughters, of the metamorphosis of his wyf into a piller of [...]ault, of the vocation of Abraham, of [...]l [...]is visions, of the often apar [...]tions of Angels both to him and others, of the generation of Isaac, of his miraculous deliuerie, of so many miracles wrought in the behalf of Iacob, Ioseph, Moyses, and the people of Israel both in Egipt, & when they were departed thence, [...]ntil the tyme that the law was deliuered them. When the Iewe hath thus out-braued the Church of Christ with their miracles, wil these peo ple that can not disgest the perpetual course therof amongst Christians, brook that the Church which our lord & sauiour chose as his most loo [...]ng spowse, wherein he promised to abyde to the end of the world, which he bought with his most precious blood, and adorned with so great and most worthie Sacramēts, should be destitute of such a grace, should be bereaued of so necessarie a strength, should be depriued of so conuenient and needeful a glorie?

Yf they wil not be a shamed to play thus the base cra [...]c [...]s, and so much to disgrace the honor of the Christian Religion, and the most honorable worke of Christ Iesus, then I chalendge them to shewe vs [Page] some auncient & authentical Writers. Chronicles, Records. Doctors, or learned writers that euer noted the tyme when God withdrew his powrable hand from these kinde of supernatural wo [...]kes or that euer they should end so long as his Church should last. But they can neuer do it, as we on the other side are able to shewe them the perpetual course [...]nd succession of miracles in the Catholick Church, e [...]en from the Apostles dayes to ours, as that learned and eloouent Father I evvis Richeo [...] hath al [...]edy done inLouys Richco me au discours des miracles chap 16. num. 2 his discourse of miracles, dedicated to the Frēch king now liuing: and I hope ere long they shal further perceaue by that huge and [...]nfinit masse of hese matters, which th [...] Reuerand▪ learned, and worthie Father Giles Scond [...]nck Rector of [...]ur English Seminarie in Sainct Omers hath gathred together, and that onely of such things, as in this kind haue happened in these two latter ages: which [...]f the world sh [...]l once see him publish in that authentical manner as he intendeth, it w [...]l not be a little astonished to thinck that euer there should haue [...]en amongst men men so bra [...]ē faced, or blockishignorant, that either durst or could make so shameful a doubt, much lesse so desperate a denial [...]f this euer flowing current of miracles.

But it maybe these good so le [...]a [...] thus scrupulous [...]n acknowledging this cu [...]e [...]t [...]n regard of the word of God: f [...] as t [...]e [...] take themselues to be the onely champions and protectors of the word▪ so haue they solemly and s [...]r [...]ou [...]ly told vs, that they wil neither teache or learne or b [...]ue any thing, which is not exp [...]ess [...]y, or by n [...]essa [...]e [...]n [...]crp [...]tation in the w [...]d. [...]e it so, let vs enter with them into the word. There we read that the power of working miracles was giuen to the first Pastors of the Church. I confesse it. Now let them shew me [Page] by the word, or any good glosse of the word, that this power was recalled, yea or that e [...]e it was to beMath [...] Marc 6. [...] [...]uc. 9. 10. recalled. I fynd in the word and book of God, that when our Sauioure gaue power of working miracles vnt his Apostles, he gaue [...]t vnto them together with their power of preaching, which power to preache he also gaue in them vnto al their successors, who neuer were to haue an end vntill the world did end: Euen so when our Sauiour gaue them authoritie to work miracles, vnder the likeEphes. 4. forme of words, it is not to be doubted but in them he indued their successours with the same miraculous power, acording to the exigēce of his Church, which power should neuer expire, or [...]l l [...] them [...]y the text shew vs the contiarie. Again I read tha [...] [...]rMa [...]h. 2 [...] [...]vv [...] things promi [...]e [...] by Christ th [...]t should perpetuall [...] remaine in his Church [...] Lord said: Ecce ego vobiscum sum omnibus d [...]bus vsque ad consummationem sacul [...] ▪ behold I am whith you [...]l da [...]es enen vnto the consummation of [...]he world VVhere our benigne Lord promi [...]e [...]h that his A [...]ostles and disciples should continue to the end o [...] the world & he with them, not with them in their [...]wn persons for they are dead and departe [...] hence, [...]herfore with them in their succ [...]ssors with whome a [...]o his perpetual fauourable assistance was to rema [...]n without any diminution or limitation, and that by them he would adorne and fortifie his Church with the self same power of miracles, where with at the beginning in his Apostles he establishe [...] it. By which promise we may conce [...]e inestimable comf [...]rt▪ in beeng stil assured of his diuine [...]ese [...]ce amongst vs in al our losses and crosses, and therfore we can not imagin how it is likely that when the pa [...]an pe [...]secutors, and Heretikes▪ should oppo [...]e, cha [...]tie wa [...] cold, faith be scarce found in the world, that then our most louing lord would walk vp & down [...] [...] lesly [Page] in heauen, and seeme to haue little regard how his honor should be abused, his Church afflicted, his louing f [...]endes and children trodden vnder foot, and the deuil with his followers to seduce the world at his pleasure.

Yes forsooth say they: Antechrist when he shal come he shall doe strange w [...]nders. And I tel them that the Aegyptian magicians wrought strangeExod. 7. 8. Act [...] wonnders, and Simon Magus wrought strange wonnders, did therfore Moyses and A [...]on work no miracles? Did sainct Peter and the rest of the Apostles and Disciples no miracles? shal En [...]ch and Elias hau [...] Apoc. 11 no hand in miracles? It is impious to say or thinck, that when Antechrist the man of sinne, the chief of al He [...]etikes and falce prophets shal seek to outface the Church of Christ with his diabolical woūders, that then the true miracles of God shal no where apeare to confront his vngodly mallice. Our lord hath alredie reuealed the contrarie, to witt that euen in the ruffe and pride of Antechrist his raigne, twoApoc. 11 witnesses shal be sent, who in miracles shal so put down Antechrist and al his, that in their life tyme they shal plague the world at th [...]ir pleasure, and after their death shal mount vp to heauen as conquerours euen in the eyes of their verie enimies.

Yet perhaps our contradictors wil say, that miracles are not now needful. It is quickly sayd. I would to God the contrarie could not be so easilie & perspicuousely prooued, yea demōstrated. Were miracles necessarie to conuert Infidels, & to induce thē to enter into the Church, and are they not necessarie to confo [...]nd He [...]etikes, and to reduce them back again to the Chur [...]h which they haue fors [...]ken? Is a kings pow [...]r and assistance onely to be re [...]jo [...]ed in conquering his forrein foes, and is it to be neglec [Page] ted in the repressing of the mutenous rebellion, & intestin sedition of his own subiectes against him? See the opin [...]on of the Apostle Sainct Paul, who persua [...]ng the Corinthians to giue credit vnto him, & his doctrin, & to reiect those whome he termethMiracles are [...]ul necessatie for the Church. 2. Cor. 12. falce Apostles, craftie workers, transfi [...]u [...]ed into the Apostles of Christ; after he had recounted many th [...]ngs that touched himself, after he had declared vnto them his high reuelations, and visions, at last he saieth. Signa Apos [...]olatus met facta sunt super vos in omni pa [...]ntia: in signis & prodigus & virtu [...]ibus. The signes of my Apostleship haue bend [...]n vpon you in al pa [...]nce, in sign [...]s and vvounders and mig [...]tie deedes. By the memorie of which miracles he endeuoured to grace his doctrin and to confirm the faithful therein, and perchaunce to recall those that might haue ben seduced Did not almightie God shew straunge miraclesNum. 16 and dreadful powrable workes against Core, Dathan, and Ab [...]ron, who preached no new doctrin but onely endeuoured to raise a schisme and faction against those heades and rulers of Ecclesiastical causes, whom God had apointed? And to the end the memorie of tho [...]e miracles might not d [...], he cau [...]ed the incensors of the seditious Sch [...]s [...]at [...]kes to be beaten into plates, and so to be fastn [...]d to the very alter of God, to forewarn thereby [...]heir af [...]er comers, and to deter [...]e them from committ [...]ng the [...]ke sinne, least God should work again either corporalie, or spiritually the like exterminat on and reuendge.Diuers [...]n [...]ies infecte [...] vvi [...]h di uers f [...]lce sectes & heresies. O Gracious Souuerai [...]e, who seeth not the Mahometaines in al the Turkes Empire the Iewes in most Cities and C [...]ntr [...]es▪ the infected Grecians in the call Church? the Pollitick or Parlementarie Protestanes in our own Cuntrie? diuers s [...]rtes of Lutherans in Denmarck, Sa [...]nie, & other Preuinces in [Page] Germ [...]ie, the Puritane [...] or rigid Caluinists in G [...] neua, Scotland and many partes of Fra [...]ce, the Zumgltans [...]n Zuiszerland? the Anabaptists in Morau [...]a, Holland▪ and diuers other Prouinces of the low Cuntries▪ the [...]uenckfildia [...]s in Su [...]thland▪ the Stan [...]a [...]ians [...]n th [...] lesse [...] Poland▪ the Osiandrins in Prussia and in both these and diuers other Cuntries innumerable o [...]her sectes, not onely banded aga [...]nst the Catholicks, but also bitterly bicke [...]ing amongst thē selues? Who read [...]h not their vehement i [...]uectiues and most [...]eu re enact [...]d lawes? who is he that can dissemble so many blou [...]die battailes? such open Rebellions? su [...]h bur [...]in [...]s? s [...]ch quarterings? such massac [...]ings▪ such [...]ff [...]sion of Christian bloud? [...]ea of most Christian Pr [...]nces bloud? as the doleful and tragical endes of diuers your Maiesties neerest and dee [...]est in bloud do witt [...]es & testifie to al the world. The [...]fore can any iustly say that this world had euer m [...]e need that God should miraculousely shew himself where he resideth, and in what Congregation o [...] Church his one [...]y true sauing faith and worship is to be [...]ound, seing all these opp [...]sitions and h [...]rib [...]e h [...]r [...]b [...]ili [...]s stil a [...]e, and eue [...] [...]it were prete [...]d [...]d to haue ben raised for him, and for his onely cause?

But wil a [...]y know why the for wil eate no grapes? surely because he can not get them; and wil they vnderstand w [...]y he [...]e [...]ikes th [...]k miracles superfluous, & wh [...] [...]h [...]y do not care [...]or thē? verely because they see that neuer [...]ny f [...]lc [...] sect or Her [...]fie could euer haue the honor or comfort to haue any one miracle for thē Whe [...]e as we Catholicks by the goodne [...] of God so abo [...]d with thē, that except we wil denie our very sences, we can n [...]t so mu [...]h as doubt of them, & therfore (as it becometh reasonable & modest [Page] men) wee necessarilie acknowledge their beeing and continuance, acording to that Philosophical axiome: Ea sunt, que nega [...]ne [...]ultitia & pertinacia non possunt. Th [...]se things are, vvhich vvith [...]ut foll [...] & frovvard obstinacie can not be denied to be▪ For do not we see the deuot [...]on that Christian people generaly haue to Sainct Sebast [...]m and Sainct Roch to be preserued from the plague? the vsual flo [...]king [...]f people to the bodie of Sainct Hubert in the Cuntrie [...]f [...]iege & especia [...]ly of th [...]se that are bitten with mad dogs? heSainctes cal [...]ed vp [...]n for the curing of di [...]ers dise [...]ses. perpetual concours made to [...]h [...] sh [...]ne of S▪ Marcon in France by those [...]hat are a ta [...]e [...] with th [...] ki [...]gs euil, so cōmonly called for that the kings of England and France you [...] Maiesties most [...] & d [...]uout progenitours haue alwaies miracul [...]usely [...] that disease Do we not also behold how [...]oca [...]e Sainct Blasius for the paine & sw [...]ll [...]ng of the throat? Sainct Erasmus against the griefs o [...] the bowels, and in [...]alls? Sainct Laurence against [...]he dau [...]ge [...] of fie [...]? Sainct Nicholas in the peril of shipw [...]k an [...] drowning? Sainct Anthonie against the disease calle [...] the wyl [...]fier? Sainct Apollonia aga [...]t the [...]he? Sainct Antho [...]e of Padua for the recoue [...]e of th [...]ngs lost? and finally d [...]uers other pa [...]t [...]cule [...] Sa [...]ncte▪ for diuers other [...]a [...]ti [...]uler helps and benefits, as ou [...] English in their batta [...]s ca [...]l vpon Sa [...]nct George, [...]he Sco [...]ish nation and Burgund [...]ans vpon S▪ Andrevv, the French vpon Sainct Denis, the Spa [...]a [...]ds vpon Sainct Iame [...] a [...]d I [...]h [...]k there i [...] not [...] k [...]gdome or Comm [...]n we [...]th but they hau [...] o [...] sai [...]ct or other for their Protec [...]ou [...] and defe [...]dour with al [...]ight [...]e God Now wh [...] so wil say that th [...]se p [...]ople Kingdoms and Nation [...] haue done this withou [...] hauing had or receiued any benefit by these Sainc [...]es, besides that most un [...]odestly they oppose them sel [...]es [Page] against the common voice & asseueration of al these people Kingdoms and Nations, so they most ignorantly goe about to controule their long [...]sual and assured experience, not aleaging any sollid thing to the contrane, but either A [...]he [...]stical scoffs, or bare doubtes, or wilful denials, or at the most, friuolous and blynd coniectures, which wil neuer [...]ooue, much lesse satisfie any that hath either witt, learning, or care of his soule. And to conclude, do not we behold the most frequented pilgrimages from all the coastes of the world for all kyndes of helps, to our ladie of L [...]ette in [...] to our ladie of Mont [...]serrato, and to the body of S. Ia [...]s in Spaine? to our ladie [...]f M [...]ndoui [...] in S [...]ie? to our ladie of L [...]ss [...] in Franc [...]? and to be brief (for it would be an endles matter toOur ladies vvorking miracles in diuets c [...]ntries. recount al the [...]e fountaines and heades of miracles) I onely desire them to cast their eies vpon these Netherlands and amongst other places therein attentiuely and seriousely behold H [...]uer, H [...]ll [...], & the place called Montague where they shal see how Almightie God at the intercession of his most worthie and glorious Mother doth as it were powre down from heauen whole showres and streames of heauenly miracles, & so if they be not altogether starck stone blynd they shal [...]u [...]dently see that miracles are not yet ceased.

Yet say what we wil, or can say; I fynd by experience that there is nothing so cl [...]e [...]e and manifest, but if men list not to behold i [...] they wil not onelyGreate obsti [...] cie. stil deny it, but wil frame to them selues (a meruelous thing) a quite contrarie conceit, and vnderstād it in a quite opposit manner to the nature thereof like to th [...]se absurd people vnto whome the Prophet speaketh in such bitternes saying: Va qus dicitis ma [...] bon [...]m, & bonum malum: ponen [...] [...]nebr [...]s luce [...], [...]sai. 5. [Page] & luc [...]m tenebras: ponentes am [...]rum [...]n dulce, & dulce in amarum. Va qui sapientes esiis in oculis vestres & coram v [...]is [...]etipsis [...] prudentes. VVo be to you that say euil is good, and good is euil: setting dar [...]knes to be light, and light to be dar [...]knes: putting that thing vvhich is bitter into that vvhich is svveet, & the svveet into that vvhich [...]s bitter. VVo be to you that are vvise in your ovvn sight, a [...]d are prudent in your ovvn conceites. For these conce [...]ed wisards wil haue men persuaded that these workes of God are the operations of the deuil, that these miracles are tricks of sorcerie, that these euident demonstrations of our lord his supernatural power are secret collusions of infernal feyndes, that the benefits which haue descended down vpon vs from heauen, are certain pestilent pernicious contagions that are vamped out of the accursed dungeon and pitt of hel; whereby they affirme good to be badde, light to be darcknes, God to be the deu [...]l. And whence cometh all this mistaking but because they account them selues more learned and wise, then all those of the Churche of God: because they preferre their own iudgement before the knowledge of all their learned vertuous & graue auncestours; because they are of opinion that the wisdome of all ages, of al Pastors and Prelates, of al the vniuersities of the Christian world, of al the Prouincial National and general councelles, must stoop & adore their blyndouer weening cap [...]i [...]hes.

It is a plag [...]e that God sendeth vnto the prowd,A Punnishment that God inflic [...]e [...]h [...]po those th [...]t are to much cōcei [...]ed of th [...]ir o [...] iudgement. to depri [...]e them of the little light he hath giuen thē, thereby to punnish their haughtie a [...]o [...]itie, and to e [...]pose them to the [...]corne o [...] rather pitie of al those that be hould thē how they goe peak [...]ng alone with a self imagination and ad [...]i [...]ation of their own [...]ub [...]lit [...], or rather stupiditie. For so it fared with ou [...] first [Page] Parents, who cast them se [...]ues and all their miserable posteritie into i [...]credible ignorance and darknes, onel [...] for presu [...]g [...]r endeuour [...]g to attaine to greater witt and knowled [...]e, then God had bestowed vpon them o [...] though [...] sit fo [...] them▪ in so much as the Prophet could [...]ay of man Comparatus Psal. 48. [...]st lum [...]ntis insipientibus & si [...]lis factus est illis: He became to be compaired to the foolish beastes and vvas made like vnto them. It is an old prouerb that Heresie and Fren [...]ie alwaies goe together. For euery Heretike being naturally [...]roud, will [...]e [...]eue none but himself, & therfore Antiquitie, Consent and vniuersalitie (things of high regard to the anc [...]ent learned holy Fathe [...]s) are by him contemned as strawes, and est [...]emed as redi [...]ulous trifl [...]s, wherein they contra [...]ie his phantasie, according to the saying of the wise man▪ Non r [...]cip [...]t [...]iulius v [...]rba prudentia, n [...]si ea dix [...]ris, qua v [...]rsantur in corde eius. A fool rec [...]ueth not the Pro [...]. 18. Math 9 Ma [...]. 3. Hovv diuers miscreant [...] attributed Gods mi [...]a [...]les to the deuil. Linda [...]u [...] du bi [...] dialog. 2. [...]. 4. Aug de [...]iui [...] l. 21. c. [...] 4▪ Reg. 20. Iosue 3. vvord [...]s of vvisdome except you tel him those things that are i [...] his ovvn hart. Yea le [...] God speak vnto him by miracles f [...]om heauen, a [...]sha be est [...]emed witchcraft, and damnable deuilish pract [...]es. For [...]o the Iewish Scribes inte [...]p [...]eted the workes of our Sauiour, so afterwards Porp [...]irius, E [...]omius, Eu [...]t [...]thius, Vigilam [...]s and other old condemned Apost [...]es & He [...]e [...]ikes [...]epo [...]ted of the miracles of h [...]s Sainctes, and ma [...]y [...]s. So seemed t [...]e heathen Poet Virgil (as sayeth Sainct Augustin) to haue interpreted the miracles that were wrought amongst the a [...]ncient Israelites, and in particuler the staying o [...] th [...] fl [...]od Iorda whyle Iosue whi [...]h his people passed d [...]t through thesame, & the turn [...]ng back of the [...] in his ordinarie, course at the prayer of Isa [...] the pr [...]phet As though these two great Sainctes could not but by the help of so [...]cerie. Si [...]r [...] aqu [...] fl [...]s, & vert [...]r [...] syd [...] a re [...]r [...]. [Page] To stay the r [...]nning streames of riuers and to turn ba [...]kwardes the very starres of heauē. And now there is no sect, [...]ither by vs, o [...] by any our aduersaries esteemed as erro [...]eous, falce a [...]d deu [...]lish, but it holde [...]h and beleeueth that the miracles of the CatholikeThe mir [...]cles of the C [...] tholick Church can not be of the deuil. Churche are [...]upe [...]stitious, the works of Satan, and consequently to be a [...]hor [...]ed and detested of euery one: Which is an eu [...]dent proof of their puritie and excellencie. For moste or all of these s [...]ctes being of [...]he deuil as both they & we suppose, I cannot imag [...]n howe these people can reasonab [...]y thinck that th [...] d [...]uil wil band [...]o e [...]nestly against him self, & that he [...]il either prouoke or permitt his vas [...]ailes, by impu [...]ning our miracles to seek the overthrow of so principal a pi [...]le [...] and suppotte of his kingdom: su [...]posing I say that our miracles are of him as these ma [...]rers of mi [...]acles together whith other s [...]ctes would haue the world t [...] beleeue. And that this difficult [...]e may be the be [...]t [...] cleered, I bes [...]e [...]h them to peru [...]e the huge list of these sayd different and opposit sectes, which they shal finde in [...]mdanus, Ho [...]iu [...], Staphilus, and Prateolus: where they sha fynd whi [...]h what [...]warn [...]es of▪ he [...]e [...]nf [...]deli [...]ties and He [...]esies the wor [...]d is mightely pesti [...]d at this day The [...]e shal they behold the Mah [...]metanes▪ levves, [...]utherans Cal [...]in [...]sis, Zu [...]glians▪ Anabaptists, Tri [...]tarians, Stancanans, Manivv [...]uers, Hozzlers, He [...]m [...]i [...]ters, By [...]pers, Signifiers, Figurers, Demon [...]acals, to say [...]oth [...]g of the s [...]nd [...]ie rep [...]g [...]ant profess [...]ons of [...]a [...]th [...]a [...]e [...]y [...]p [...]g vp i [...] our Brytanie, besides innu [...]erable others els where too too [...]edious and loa [...]h [...]m he [...]e to be reci [...]ed: all which v [...]doubtedly proceed [...]ng from the deuil, as from the fi [...]st pa [...]ent and autho [...] of al i [...]fidel [...]itie & d [...]ssen [...]iō ▪ it seemeth a thing most st [...]ange, yea altogether v [...]intelligible, (if the en [...]ie be [Page] able to performe such miracles which we affirm to be wrought in the Catholick Church) that either amongst all, or the most, o [...] at least among some ofnote this vvell. these, he wil not shew what he is able to do in this kynd, for the establishing and gracing of their errors, or els by prophaning the credit and honour of miracles, that he wil not assist euery sect with his secret admirable working, thereby to bring the world in doubt what faith to imbrace, or els therby to dispaire euer to come to the knowledge of the only sauing truthe and religion.

Furthermore yf the deu [...]l be able to work such miracles as these, it is strāge that he would not there in haue concurred with Nero, Simon Magus, Porph [...]rius, I [...]lian the Apostata, and Mahomet his most potent instruments, who wanted nether power not mallice to haue e [...]ceedingly aduanced his partie. And surely by nothing more could they haue so born down the Gospel of Christ, then if they had b [...]n able to haue performed those miracles (as vndoubtedly they greatly desired) which our Sauiour, his Apostles, and Marty [...]s wrought in such aboundance.

But because these wretches saw how no power either of th [...]t own or of their seyndish Gods could extend it self to such works, they were forced (thereby to shroud their own nakednes and [...]urpitude) [...]o condemne all these admirable effectes & operatiōs, saying they proceeded from witchcraft, [...]orcene, and the at [...]e Mag [...]ck Wherefore I would intreate the impug [...]ers of our Miracles to teach vs, [...]y what good reason we or they may defend the pu [...]tie of the auncient miracles of Christ, of his Apostles and martyrs against theise their calumniato [...]s; amongst whome some were so fatt persuaded that Christ himself was a Magician, that they bl [...]shed not to affirme, that [...]e [Page] had compiled a book of that accursed atte, and hadAug. de cō [...]ensu Euang. cap. 9 & 10. dedicated the same to his two chiefe Apostles Peter and Paul. And this they did to disgrace and deface the miracles that were obiected against them by the Christians, in defence of their faith.

But it is much to be feared that we shal haue little help of our aduersaries in this matter, but that they wil rather beare vp those Pagans, Iewes, and mahome [...]anes by answering for them, and shewing that the miracles aleaged by our forefathers were tricks of magick, and sorcerie, for whatsoeuer they can in [...]ent or imagin against these later miracles that are now wrought in the Catholick Churche, [...]ndoubtedly a Pagan Turk or Iewe wil in like manner oppose against those former of the Primit [...]ue Church, so that the argument of the old Doctors, Marty [...]s, Apostles, and of Christ himself, drawn from the authoritie of miracles shal be quite ouerthrown, and shal serue for no proof of the veritie of our Religion. It may be perhaps they wil confound the Turks, Iewes, and Gentiles with scriptures, and out of them they wil conuince that the miracles of the Primitiue Church must be beleeued I know not what these worthie Scripturians may more then miraculousely worke with these miscreants when they shal once com ouer them with their Scriptures, especially with the Pagans, who hitherto haue made no more esteeme of the Bible, then of A [...]sops fables, o [...] Ou [...]ds Metamorphosis. But this I da [...]e say, [...]f the Iewes and perhaps the Mahometanes once chāce to buckle with the in [...]hose parts of the holy Scripture which they admitt, these goodly Bible-cla [...]k [...]s shal finde them to haue as hard [...]eades, to be as p [...]eu [...]st stiffnecked, and as w [...]l conceited of that own spirit in interpreting Gods [...]ook as the prowdest Gospeller [Page] that date once to coap with them. And therfore the wisdō of God who knew what would best conuince the pertinacitie of the Iewes, although he had aleaged sundrie Scriptures for his m [...]ssion, yet did herather cōdemne them as reprobate for not beleeuing10. 15. him in regard of his miracles, then in regard of the manifest places of scripturs so often b [...] h [...]m10. 5. produced for himself, & against them. And althogh he willed them to search the Scriptures, and to examin them about his mission and authorit [...]; that was because vpon former miracles they were wel persuaded of the veritie of the scriptures; but when the Gentiles were to be conuerted, miracles were there Scriptures, and onely in them did they read that the Christian doctrin came from God. So that miracles are more euident proofes of a true religion t [...]ē are the Scriptures, especially considering how Scriptures are so subiect to falce misconstruing▪ s [...]de [...]l [...]sh bad interpretation, as experience most manifestly demonstrateth. Whereby al the world may see and laugh at the absurditie of those that say▪ we know your miracles are not of God, and yf we demand, why so? they wil answer because your doctrin which they approo [...]e is not of God; and if we would know of them the reason of so resolute an assertion they w [...]l tel [...]s because our Religion is not acording to the word of God. A reason forsooth that the Iewes, and Mahom [...]tans (as I said, may in like manner frame against [...] Christian faith, & all the Heretikes that either [...]re, or haue bene, or e [...]er hereafter shal be may with as good proof aleage against whatsoeuer they shal not please to admitt, because it is not according to their glosse and interpretat on of holy Scripture.

As the Catholick Church hath certain assured good [Page] meanes to attaine to the true intelligence of holy Scripture thereby to au [...] in all danger of error and Heresi [...], so hath it most cu [...]dent notes whereby to discerne falce de [...]ling from true miracles, that the [...]eby she may no [...]b [...]d cerued with witchcraft and sorcerie, so that as vpon those groundes she buil [...]eth her assurance of her true [...]nderstanding of the word of God, so by these ma [...]ckes she cometh to the assured knowledge of the powerable workes of God For ourHovv to knovve true miracles from the vvorkes of sorcerie. Math 12 blessed Sauiou [...] himself hath deliuered [...]nto her, one most, clee [...]e si [...]ne hereof, when he was forced to defend his miracles from the Iewisn calumniation, by which they were attributed to the deuil For he sayd Omne regnum diuisum [...]otra se, desola [...]tur. Euery kingdom diuided against it self, shal be de [...]iate. As [...]f he sayd the deuil w [...] not wo [...]k any thing against himself that thereby h [...] kingdom may be destroyed But when we consider who they are, vpon whome these mirac [...]lo [...]s benefits are bestowed, we fynd them to be th [...]se, that first p [...]epare their way hereunto b [...] t [...]ue and zeal us repentance of their sinnes, by labouring to ex el out of their soules whatsoeuer may be dupleasing to God or any way pleasing to the deuil, who e [...] d [...]n [...]ur to raise in the [...] selues true loue and [...]ffect on towardes their maker, & perfect resignation with [...]l patience to his holy wil, desiring nothing more [...] that the wil of God should be fulfilled in the [...], to his greatest honor and glorie. All which things (with many pointes [...] sides that their faith and [...]el g [...]n [...]e ch [...]h be [...] beeing most acceptable vnto Go [...] and highly m [...]king for his honor, & consequently mos [...] [...] [...] [...]he deu [...]l, [...]f he should second with his wo [...]kes, and [...]emune at his en [...]mies with so si [...]gul [...]r fa [...]ours as we see the e [...]de [...] o [...]t people dayly blessed withal, what oth [...] thing doth [...]e, [Page] but thereby ruyn & subuert his infernal kingdom [...] Likewise the Church disc [...]rneth true miracles from witchcraft by an other sentence of our lord in the same place. For he saith: Qu [...] non est mecum▪ contra [...] est: & qui non congregas mecum, spargit. He that is not vvith me, is against me: and he that gathereth not vvith me, d [...]sperseth. As if he would haue sayd: the deuil who is mine enimie, and consequently is not with me doth nothing but that which he knoweth is most displeasing to me: and al his studie beeing how he may disunite. whome I haue gathered together in true concord and charitie, the end of his work [...] is to seuer soules from God by sinne, and to break the mutual peace of my flock by sowing his seed of contention and discord amongst them. ForThe vvor kes of God and of the deuil haue cō trarie [...]ades. as the workes of the deuil are to disturb al cōcord in saith and teligion, and by leading men in-to sinne to make them rebells & enimies to God his diuine maiestie, so the miracles of God are wrought for the producing and maintenance of vnitie in faith, & perfect vnion with almightie God in vnfained charitie, which we see performed by these miracles, which are onely wrought in the Catholick Church, which Church in matter of beleef is and alwayes hath bene perfectly vnited in it self, and whose doctrin alloweth of no vice, but rather teacheth all vertue, and hath the best yea the onely meanes to aduaunce mennes soules to their spiritual and cheifest perfectiō. Again, the Church discouereth the collusion of the deuil from the working of God, by noting the meanes that are vsed in the purchasing of these miracles, which are nothing els, but most serious prayer vnto almightie God▪ [...]oined with fasting al [...]nes deedes, honoring of God his mother, and his holy saincts his decrest and most honorable frendes: Which honor [Page] they doe to them, for the more honor and reuerence they beare to God himself: Which th [...]n [...]s in holy scripture are singuler [...]y commended whereas the contrarie are the euident workes of the deuil, & whosoeuer is adicted to them▪ o [...]y perseuereth in them, (be he of what religion so [...]uet) can neuer be made pertaker of God his sweetenes in his necessities by these miracles. Moreouer, the Catholik Church seeth that these miracles are substancial woorkes, notably and perfectly profiting the bodies and soules of those vnto whome they are imparted: Whereas the workes of our hateful enimie are rather hurteful and domageable to the creatures of God, then any wayes confortab [...]e vnto them in their miseres and afflictions. We likewise note that these miracles are in themselues perfect, and intiere; where as the workes of the de [...]l are most commonly defectiue in many things. Also the workes of the deuil are done for vaine or pernicious endes, as that the workers (who are alwaies [...]ad vngodly people) may be wound [...]red at, or that they may thereby obtain some gayne or filthy pleasure, or wreak their hatred and reuenge against their enimies: they are commonly wrought by certain secret, absurd, ridicul [...]us, superstitious prayers, charmes, signes, or circumstances: Which neue [...] do accompaine the Catholik miracles. And finally (for it is not necessarie to recount al the differences) if euer God perm [...]t the deuil to work any h [...] deceitful wounders in the behalf of any sect or heresie, they are soon bewraied, if they be duely e [...]amined, they vanish away at the presence either of faithful people, or of other true miracles, and they are fully discried in that they oppugn the Religiō that hath bene alredy established, and confirmed by infinit [Page] most euident and assured miracles, by the confession of al antiquine, by the consent of al nations, by the censure of al General Councels by the assertions of al holy Fathers of all Histories of al Schooles, of al vniuersities, by the triumphant deathes of innumerable Martyr [...], by the profession of infinit Confessors, Virgins, Lay & Religious people, of al estates, degrees, and ages.

As the old saying is true, that cunning hath noVVho they are that most cōdemn the Catholik saith. 2. pet. 2. enimie but the ignorant [...] so we daily euidently experience that the Catholik Church is by none more oppug [...]ed then by those that are most ignorant of her wayes and doctrin. Which thing the Apostle S. Peter did soretel of the here [...]ikes which were to bād against the Church, whome he termeth Irrationabel [...]a pecora, naturaliter in captionem & in per [...]ic [...]em, in his qua ignorans blasphemantes. Vnreasonable beastes, naturally tending to the snare, and into destruction, blasphe [...]ung in those things vvhich they knovve not. For wee see none more forward to condemn the Catholik Religion then they, that onely vpon their own conceired surmises, or vpon fraudulent falce reportes of their own doctors & teachers impugne it. Which their blynd f [...]e as they exercise against euery point of our faith, so perticulerly in this, that they are not ashamed to assigne our miracles to sope st [...]tion andHovv hateful al sorcerie and superstitiō is to catholiks. sorcerie. Wherf [...]e I pray them to tel me, who is he that hath but onely read or hard the forme to make his Sacramētal Cofession (a thing dayly yea allmost how [...]ely p [...]actized amongst Catholiks) but he hath also learned amongst other things, that wi [...]chcraft, sorcerie, & al kyndes of superstition are accompted for g [...] us sinnes, as being directly against the commaundement of almightie God? And those that haue made more progresse in learning, if they haue [Page] bene but slenderly acquainted with Catholik writers, can not be ignorant what volumes haue bene writtē and diuulged in particuler against these [...]ice [...], as also to discouer then fraud mallice and imp [...]etie.Ioannes [...]or instit. mor [...]l. lib 9 cap 26. q 2. & [...]. And as for the Canon, Imperial▪ & Ciuil lawes, how seuerely they haue bene and are enacted against these enormities, and how rigourousely executed in euery Catholik Cuntrie against the off [...]ndors, I am sure none but the deafe and blynd can be vnwitting thereof. Yea, what a perticuler and zealous hatred Catholiks beare against al superstition, is man [...]estR gul [...] indicis librorū prohibit [...]rum concil. Trid Reg [...]. & 9. in that the children of the Catholik Church are by their Pastors and Prelats strictly forbidden, so much as to read, sel, or retaine any books or treateses (though they do not beleeue them) of magick, sorcerie, chyromancie, iudiciarie astrologie, or of any art what soeuer which include [...]h any expresse or secret pact, couenant, interuention, o [...] familiar [...]e with the deuil. Moreouer, the bookes who [...]e arguments are otherw [...]e good and lawf [...]l, yet if theyBulla [...] [...]. [...]b [...]. containe any thing that tendeth to superstition and vaine obseruation are in l [...]ke manner forbidden vnder paine of mortal sinne, and the persons c [...]lpab [...]e are to be otherwise punished▪ as their Bishops snal thin [...]kThe [...]rud [...] [...]scre [...]on o [...] Catholiks expedient. Yet because there a [...]e m [...]ny stra [...]e and secret things that may be effectuated & w [...]ought by natural power, without any co [...] course of the d [...]uil, which to the expert in Physick & natural [...]hylo [...]ophie are not vnknown: many things also that are meere superstitious and diabol [...]cal, and many th [...]ngs again that are diuine and supernatural fun [...]e of our Catholik writers haue worthely [...]vai [...]ed to discouer and cleere ech part, for he bet [...]er direction hoth of the spiritual and tempo [...]al magistrate herein [...] that these things might not ly so hudd [...]ed vp [...]n [Page] confusion, that by their ignorance any inconueni [...]ce or indignitie might happen: Where in amongst others the learned Martin D [...]lrius hath in three cō petentDisquisition [...] Magicorum. Tomi [...]tes Mat tini Del [...]i. tomes or volumes shewed his erquisit diligence & skill. So that hereby all men may see how litle daunger there is to be fea [...]ed that Catholik miracles haue any affinitie with superstition and lorcerie, both through the vigilant diligence that Catholiks haue to sift euery point and particuler circumstance in them, as also in regard of the ingrafted hat [...]ed and disdaine that the Catholik Church bea [...]eth against the deuil, and al his [...]recrable workes, as being contrarie to God, and all goodnes.

If these your pretended miracles (say our aduersaires) [...] calū niation vvith the an svver. be not workes of sorcerie, then are they coo [...]ening tricks of your priestes & clerge men, who cunningly decerue the world, for their own l [...]cre and gayne. But this calumniation is soon wiped away, if they would consider, that many of these misacles are wrought vpon people that neuer were at the miraculous place: diuers vpon strangers who onely vowed or intended to goe thithes, many vpō the poor who were not able to giue contentment to such inordinate auarice: many were donne in the ve [...]w of hundrethes that were present: they haue bene all most diligently and curiously examined by the Princes authoritie, and Ciuil Magistrates in many Cities, townes, and other places, who neuer hetherto could fynd the least suspicion in these matters of any such abhom [...]nable euil dealing. And the like may be answered to those, who so confidently [...]lea [...]g [...], that these things were performed by way of Physick, & in particuler by the help of the Phylosophers stone,Follie in incre [...] dulitie. (good lord what doe not men [...]nuent when they would blynd themselues that they might not see the [Page] truthe) whereby they shew their stonie harts and heades.

Vpon the [...]e men I feare that Apostolical sentence wil [...]e verified if they do not repent them, R [...]elatio [...] [...]ra De [...] de caelo, super omnem imp [...]etatem & intustitiam hominum eorum qui veritatē De [...] in iniusticea detinent. The vvrathe of God from heauen is reuealed vpon al impeetie & iniustice of those men that dete [...]ne the veritie of God in iniustice. For how vniustly they haue sought to keep both from their owne and other mennes knowledge the truthe of God, your Royal wisdome may sufficiently perceiue, first in not crediting God his miracles, nor God, by his miracles, again, by wholy denying his miracles, afterward, Iuda [...]cally that is impiousely att [...]buting them to the damned deuils of hel, and finally vncharitably and iniu [...]ousely condemning those whose innocencie & sinceritie neither the diligent and war [...]e Catholik, nor the curious prying mallicious Herenke could euer yet iustly touche. Therfore I say vnto thē with th [...] Prophet Hodie si vocem Domini aud [...]ritis, noli [...]e obdurare corda vestra. If you wil heare the voice of our Lord by miracles speaking & prea h [...]ng vnto yo [...] ▪ c [...]ē in ou [...] dayes, & proclaming where he doth reside, denouncing vnto you where you shal fynd him beware that you harden not your ha [...]tes, as those old crasperating people did, vnto whome ou [...] lord did swea [...]e being mo [...]ed with his iust ang [...]t and disdaine against their stubbernes and [...]du t [...]e, that they should neuer enter into his rest, that they should neuer haue parte of his eternal felicitie.

Which heauy and dreadful [...]oome they may auo [...]d if [...]aying asyde all animositie and p [...]a [...]e affection, they would me [...]kely, that is, with Christian mode [...]tic, patience, and humilitie for Christ [Page] his sake and for their own soules saluation take the paines to vewe either with their corporal e [...]es, or with the attentiue eies of their mynde what is doune in the mountaine of Montaigue Where they may see a most famous and frequent Pilg [...]image to a picture of the Mother of God, or to a place chosen out by [...]e [...], wherein shee sheweth her gracious fauours to humble and distressed suppliants: where they shal behould troupes of penitent sinners prostrate before the feet of their confessors, and declaring vnto them their [...]respasses: where they efrsoones deuoutly adore and receiue the bodie of God in the forme of bread: where they are present at the continual celebration of Masses: where they hear perpetual and reuerent inuocation of our Ladie, & of other Sainctes: where they attentiuely ha [...]ke [...] to innumerable sermons and exhortations, persuading those things which either the Catholik Church commaundeth, or counseleth to be beleeued and imbraced, or meiting them to auoyd those things which the sayd Church either in faith or manners m [...]sl [...]keth or condemneth. And whileThe assu [...]ednes of the Catholik do ctrine. these things and many other such like, are in doing, they shal often tymes espie the power and sweet goodnes of God to discend vpon the holy assembly, whereby some that are blynd receiue their sight, some that are deaf recouer their hearing some that are leape [...]ous are clēsed some that are possessed with vncleane spirits are [...]reed from their tyran [...]e, others that are lame walk strong homeward, leauing their crutches and s [...]iltes at the place for a memorie, and many other such supernatural miraculous operations to be their atch [...]eued: where-by they may with vs iustly and with verie good consequence inferr, that holy Pilgrimages, honoring of holy Images, confession of our sinnes to the priest, acknowledging of [Page] the real presence of Christ his bodie in the blessed Sacramēt, celebration of Masses, praying to sainctes, yea (in brief) they may insert the whole [...]oct in and p [...]ctis of the Catholik Apostolik and Romaine Church to be grateful and highely pleasing vnto the Maiestie of God: for otherwise if these things were so wicked, blasphemous [...]urious abhominable, and execrable [...]n [...]o him, (as our aduertanes would persuade men) it is to be thought, that in his iust and zealous indignation he would rather cause the earth to swallow down euen into hel both the place and people, then to permitt them to departe thence fraught with such vnspeakable co [...]forts and [...]laces both of their bodies and soules, as we dayly perceaue they doe.

So that hereby euery one may see, in what price and esteeme the Catholik Church is to our Lord, whose children he thus particulerly & onely blesseth, and as it were vphouldeth in their faith with the hād of his powrable celestial operatiōs, which he vouchsafeth to impart vnto them euē by the meanes of [...]o lesse then of his most louing and glorious Mother, and for her glorie, a circumstance [...]ding al cause of doubt that the deuil should ha [...]e any claw in this matter. For our lord hath said: Inimi [...]itias ponam inter Gen. 3. to & mulierem. I vvil put enm [...]tie betvv [...]xt thee and the vvoman. Whereby we may vnderstand that as the deuil wil neuer to his power permit her to be honored, much lesse wil he worke wou [...]ders to procute or inc [...]a [...] her honor. Neither wil this blessed woman permitt her enimie euer to abuse her due honor, or to circum [...]ēt those that desire for her s [...]nnes sake, and for her own sake, to serue & honour her; but let him vse al the craft he can in [...]ent, and al the force he hath, yet shal our tr [...]umphant Iudith haue [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] the perfect victorie oue [...] him. For, Ipsa cont [...]ret cap [...] tuum She shal crush thy [...]ad vvicked and [...]eend [...]s [...] serp [...]nt, s [...]th our God Great is the force vndoubtedly of the mother of God; who not onely was and is able to com [...]ate with the deuil, but to crush him. & dominee [...]e ouer him, as o [...]er a poor worme whose hea [...] is b [...]used and squised to du [...]t. Therfore it is no meruail if [...]iracles are a [...]chiued by her meanes, who was able to being vnder her f [...]o [...] that f [...]nd [...]sn Leu [...]athan, of whom our Lord saith▪ Non est super terr [...]m Iob 41. potestas qu [...] comparetur [...] qui factus est vt nullum [...]im [...] re [...]: There is no povver vpon earth that may be compared to him▪ vvho is so made that he might feare none

Come, come and see how this miraculous mother ofThe povver of our bles [...]ed Ladie vvith almightie God. Ge [...]. 1. our God hath power to procure mirac [...]es to proceed from God at her word, as beeing the mother of the eternal word and the [...]o [...]e was she onely preu [...]edg [...]d to vse the most forceble word▪ that euer God vsed towardes his creatures For o [...]r ord said Fiat: & this his mother repeated the said Fiat. Fiat lu [...], said he, Fiat firmamentum▪ Fian [...] luminar [...]a, &c. let the light be made, let the firmament be made. l [...]t the starres of P [...]l. [...]2. heauen be made. Ipse dixit & facta sunt He said the vvord and they vvere made This holy virgin said to the Angel▪ Fia [...] inti [...] secundum verbum [...]uum. Be it Luc. 1. 10. 1. donne to me acording to thy vvord. Et ve [...]bum caro factum est. & habita [...]it in nob [...]s. And the vvord vvas made flesh, and dvvels in vs. The word Fiat proceeding out of the mouth of God. was the cause that the world was created: the word Fiat out of the mouth of this blessed virgin▪ was the cause that God himself was incarnate: By his Fiat, he made the world and man, by her F [...]at, God entred into the world, and became man. Which being so great a miracle, the f [...]utes whereof the faithful still reap [Page] vpō earth, & the continuance whereof the Angels & sainctes perpetuall▪ en [...]oy in hea [...]en, no [...] [...]f these miracles (which in this book are related) be wrought in her fauour, & at her word, [...]eing that [...]n dignitie & perfection they are infinitly inferiour to those, which by her and [...]o [...] her, h [...]ue a [...]re [...]ie b [...]ne performed. And verily i [...] we consider who this Virgin is, what is her degree and dignitie, we can not much wounder at this her pre [...]ogat [...]ue. For in one word she is the mother of God, who did beare in her sacred wombe the second person in Trinitie our lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the So [...]u [...]raine King and Iudge of Men & Angels. With whom this blessed Virgin had not onely domestical familia [...]itie for many yeares, but had motherly authoritie ouer him,L [...]c. 2. The most m [...] r [...]cu [...]on. se preuilege of our [...]. Ladie. fo [...] he was obedient vnto her, yea subiect vnto her, yea subiect to Io [...]eph for he [...]ake, which truly was a power aboue all power, a miracle aboue all miracles, to haue in pio [...]s and reuerend subiection the high Maiestie of h [...]a [...]n, the author and [...]pre [...]e worker of a [...]l miracles Who had [...]ch admirable respect to this his most honorable moth [...], [...]a [...] a [...] in his life tyme he alwaies ye [...]de [...] vnto her authoritie, [...]o euen at the instant of his death while he was performing that great and dreadful blood [...]e [...]ac [...]fise on the altar of the Crosse, euen in the ve [...]y act of the reconciliation of mank [...]nd to his heauenly Father, he could not then neglect or be vnmyndeful of his most worthie mother, but must needes of his sonnely p [...]e [...]e apoint his best belooued Apostle to be her carefull sonne in his [...]teed▪ wherfore now that this our Lord is settled [...]n his throne of maiestie▪ now that he [...]aigneth in his kingdom of glorie, where, (as he promised) he ministreth to his seruants▪ wi [...]h what respect doth he behaue himself to his glorious best beloued [Page] and best deseruing mother? let vs behold king Salomon in this point, who so honored his mother Bersab [...], that he ado [...]ed her▪ that on his right hand he3. Reg. [...]. placed a throne for her & sp [...]ke these dutiful wordes vnto her Pe [...]e ma [...]er [...]a: ne [...]ue enim fas est vt auert [...]m faci [...]m tuam. Mother sh [...]vv your request: for it is not l [...]vvful that I should turne your face from me.

That is: that I should suffer you to depart discontented from me. Which Salomo did & said vndoubtedly in regard of the natural duty which he knew he did owe to his mother. For he had before his e [...]es thatExod. [...]0 commaundement of God. Honora Patrem tuum▪ & matrem tuam. Honor thy Father, and thy mother. This precept our Sauiour Iesus doth incomparably more respect and obserue, then Salomon eithe [...] did or could: for that it was his own law, as also for that it is a law mee [...]ely natural, & consequently indispensable, the which God himself the Author of nature can no more violate, thē he can de [...]e or hate himself, or be sub [...]ect to the deuil.

Let therfore no mā wunder (Gracious soueraine) that both your subiects at home, and all Catholik Princes, People, & common w [...]lthes abroad persuaded themselues, that the sayd Cathol [...]ks in our cuntrie should cease to be [...]osted with the furious waues of pers [...]cution, so soon as they saw your Maiestie to be settled at our sterne For this their persuasiō grew not onely of that they had seen your Graces car [...]age alwa [...]es to haue bene free from al [...]rigor & seuer [...]e; not for that your royal elemencie alwayes hated the odious & infamous name of a persecutor, not for that they knew you needed not to maintaine your iust and vndoubted t [...]le by those meanes, which to your Predecessor seemed necessarie for hers, not for that they thought your Princely wisdom would not [Page] exasperate and dishonor other Christian Princes and People, by perse [...]uting your subiectes, for being of the same fa [...]th and religion with them: not for that diuers your subiectes had reported this your myld disposition and intention in euery fo [...]re [...]ne Princes Court and C [...]trie, and which very many of them affirmed to haue had it from your Graces self, not for that they held your Maiestie for wise and learned, and that therfore the right of the Catholik cause should be seriously and maturely examined, before it should be condemned: not for that they did thinck, that your Royal wisdome would easilie see that by persecution our faith hath been no whit diminished, but rather admirably increaced: not for many other reasons which they deemed would withhould your Grace from so disgracious, daungerous, hateful, and vng [...]dly a course: but they were especially moued vnto this honorable and pious conceite of your Maiestie, for that they thought it would neuer enter into your Princely breast, to arme your royal hand against the professors of that faith, which all your Maiesties must honorable Progenitors in England, France, and Scotland euer most zelo [...]sly and religiously imbraced▪ since first those Cuntries receiued their Christianitie▪ but especially in regard of your Graces most famous & ren [...]umed Mother, who (as all the world kn [...]w [...]h and to her honour protesteth) most zelousely protested the same in her life, and hero [...]ca [...]ly sealed this her profession with the eff [...]sion of her royal blood at her sacred death. And their godly persuasion was foūded vpon this, that they hold this pious precept to be deeply g [...]auen in your royal hart: Honora Eccl. 7. patre tuit▪ & ge [...]us matris tu [...]ne obliu [...]s [...]aris Honour your Father and forget not the sobs of your Mother. They thought your Graces deerest mothers manifold sobs [Page] teares, and direful groanes in bringing you foort [...] into this world in her restles cares, cogitations, and prayers to God for your preseruation, in the sundrie vndutiful perilous insu [...]rections of her own subiectes against her in her most coacted exile & expulsion out of her owne kingdom, in her long rest [...]a [...]nt and vn [...]ust captiuitie, and finally on the tragical seaffo [...]d where the innocent Queene your graces kyndest Parent was bloudely depriued of her life: they thought (I say) these fo [...]c [...]ble groanes and showres of teares of so deere a Mother would not onely haue inclined her most beloued Chyld with all dutiful reuerence, but would euen naturally that is, most forcib [...]y haue comp [...]lled him to respect her, and her cause, that is, the Catholik cause, for which she sustained these calamities and indignities. And vndoubtedly all the world could not but haue [...]ustly condemned that person as very iniurious to your Maiestie, who euer should haue da [...]ed to haue had as much as a thought that your Highnes would eues (I do not say) commaund, but so much as permitt that the Catholiks▪ your mothers chiefest if not her onely frendes should be any wayes molested▪ and much lesse indamaged, impouerished, in prisoned, condemned and put to death for the profession of her faith. For the world hath not yet forgouen, neither can the memorie thereof euer decay▪ how that Catholiks haue bene hampered, fortured, spoiled of their goodes, hanged, boweled and mangled, yea, for [...]eine nations do stil behould the ex [...]e and pouertie of diuers, who at this present remaine depriued of their lands and liuelihoods, for hauing loued, honored, p [...]ied, or affectionated the afflicted innocent mother of King Iames our redoubted lord WherebyPlu [...]archu [...]. the dutiful behauiour of that heathen Roman Cor [...]olan [...]s [Page] cometh into mennes myndes, who was so natural as for his mothers s [...]ke to depose the seuere chast [...]sment and reuenge which he had prepared against those that were so vnkynd and vngrateful towardes him: by which example they conclude, that your Maiestie being a Christian and the sonne of a most glorious Christian martyr can not but graunt vnto your Catholik subiects, the most [...]lous & sincere frends of you both, their long desi [...]ed comfort, and the iust f [...]eedome from their vniust distresses and oppress [...]or [...]s But let others conceiue what they [...]st of this old Pagan example: we rather think this Philo [...]ophical s [...]ntence shal haue more [...] your graces hart: Sequere Deum▪ Follovv your God sayd the w [...]se man. Which that your maiestie may the better be animated vnto▪ here in this insuing relation is d [...]spla [...]d the admirable honour which our God himself doth to his Mother, & to mortal people for her sake. Vnto whome he beareth so great reuerence, that not onely he heareth her for her frend [...]s, but of his [...]estimable pietie is most gracious vnto her for his own verye enimies: as our famous learned and de [...]out Archbishop of Cantu [...]burie Sainct Anselin hath notedAnsel in Med [...]t. sayng▪ O foelix Marie sicut omnis peccator ate auersus & ate despectus necesse est vt intereat, ita omnis peccator ad [...]e conuersus & a te respectus impossibile est vt per [...] O Happie Marie as euery sinner auerte [...] from thee and dispised by the must necessarilie dy [...] so euery sinner conuerted to the [...] and regarded by thee can not perish possibly. O the rare preuilege wherewith by her Son̄e this Mother is th [...]s honoured, wherein▪ if Christian people abroad may once chance to see your Maiestie to imitate the [...]ou [...]eraigne King of aeternal glorie to your Catholik subiectes at home, who (as all the world knoweth) were neuer enimies but most affection [Page] and loyal vnto your Royal Maiestie, as this your Godly imitation w [...]l [...]e great solace vnto vs, so wil it yeeld an vnspeakable contentment vnto thē, and withal be most honorable to your Highnes, & vnto Gods diuine Maiestie exceedingly grateful. And to the end in honoring your natural Mother,Io. 15. your Grace may not feare to dishonour and displease your aeternal Father, behold his supernatural pow [...]ableIo. 5. wo [...]ke [...] in approbation of that faith in which she liued, and for which she dyed For not beleeuing the like workes our God held the Iewes inexcus [...]b [...]e, so in crediting these your Maiestie shal not need to feare to displease, but rather to please him highly. Who onely for the temporal and euerlasting benefit of his creatures, and for the amplification of his own Soueraine honour & glorie vouchsafed thē I know that they wil be vehemently cōtradicted & im [...]ugned, befo [...]e they shal obtaine their d [...]e esteeme & credit, and therfore I haue endeuoured to clee [...]e the chiefest difficulties which I perceiue to be o diuarilie obiected against them. I graunt my discou [...]s hath bene very prolix, your Maiestie seeth the ma [...]te is important, & I was very desirous your Royal wisdom might be e [...]actly inform [...]d hereof. God graunt that what I haue done may be iudg [...]d sufficient. Yf I shal hereafter vnderstand that ought is wanting or omitted herein it shal by the help of God be added & [...]upplied. Meane while cōmiting the who [...]e to the sweet disposition of Almightie God I do withal commēd your Maiestie to his best guidance and protection.

Your Maiesties most humble Beades-man Robert Chambers.

THE TRANSLATOR TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader.

[Page]

THERE is a certain foul fault (gentle Reader) for which we Catholikes are very ordinarilie and odiously reproched, which is, that we are passing light and exceedingly prone to beleeue euery fable: and vpon this blynd simplicitie easilie drawne into any superstition and error touching the worship of God. The reason whereof is held to be our ignorance in the word of God, and the litle sight we haue in the holy Bible: rather harkening to the traditions of men (as is the phrase) and to the voice of the Church, then in marcking what the writē woord teacheth vs. It is very certaine that Catholikes say with the RoyalPs l. 77. vvh [...] [...]r [...] ditions are hi [...] reg [...]ded by Catholiks Prophet: Q [...]anta mandauit patribus nostris nota facere ea filijs s [...]s? vt cognoscat generatio altera. Filij qui nasc [...]ntur & exurgent & narrabunt filijs suis. Hovv [Page] great things did God commaūd our For [...]fathers to m [...] them knovvn to their children that an other generatiō may knovv them? The sonnes that vvere to be borne & to rise vp after them they shal tel them againe to their children. As our blessed Sauiour did, whenMat. 16. sending his Apostles to instruct the world, he bad them preache, that is, deliuer by word of mouth, or tradition his word, but he commaunded them not to write his word. And so from them (vpon the tradition of our Elders▪ we receiue what the Apostles haue sayd or written to be Gods woord, although we fynd no such declaratiō for neither their Epistles or Gospels, in the book of his woord. Which thing we accomplish according to the commaundement of Moyses saying, Interroga Patrem tuum, & annunci [...]ti [...]: tibi: maiores tuos, & dicent D [...]t. 32 tibi Ask thy sa [...]er and he vvil declare vnto thee: demaund of thy [...] aunceters and they vvil tel thee: which thing our Aduersairies themselues obse [...]ue, in admitting vpon the credit of the Catholik church the bookes of holy Scripture: vpon which ground followeth how wee ought to submitt our sences and iudgements to whatsoeuer the sayd Catholik church shal teach vs: els blott that article out of the creed: Credo Ecclesiam Catholicam I beleeue Math. 1 [...] the Catholik Churche: els let those wordes of our blessed Sauiour be scraped out of the Gospel, St Ecclesiam non aud [...]rit [...]is [...]ibi sicut Ethnicus & Publicanus yf he vvil not heare the Churche. Aug cō. 11. Epist. fundamenti. let him be to thee as [...] Heathen and Publicane. and cōsequently let Sainct Augustin be hissed out [Page] of his pulpit for saying: Euangelio non trederem. [...] me Ecclesia commoueret auctoritas. I vvould not b [...] the Gospel, except the authoritie of the Church [...]ed me therevnto. Yet for all this: I beseech our Aduersaries, not to be so hastie in spendingHovv diligēt [...]y Catholikes studie the holy scriptures. their sentences vpon vs, as if for these causes we read not, we studie not, we searche not the holy Scriptures. As if we haue not millions of Sermons, treateses, and commentaries sounding the depth of holy Scriptures. As if we haue not had hundrethes of Prouincial, National, & General Coūcells, wherinCociliū Ro [...]a num [...]. Tr [...]dentinum Nicen [...] 1. lardi [...]ēse haue bene the learned Prelates of sundrie nations, sometimes to the number of two hundreth seuentiefiue, sometimes o [...] two hundreth nyntie fiue, sometimes [...]f three hundreth and eighteene sometimes of three hundreth seuentie six, sometimes of six hundreth and thirtie, and sometimes of a thousandCalcedon [...]e. who by f [...]ruēt paryer, continual fasting, eager disputing and other learned conferences haue searched out the true senceLate [...]anenl [...]. 2. id. & meaning of holy Scripture, which if they would wel marke, they should also wel perceiue, how without all iudgement they iudgeVVv the C [...]tholick doct [...] seemeth strange to H [...]te ticket. vs, & without vnderstanding our case they blyndely condemne vs, and so they would conclude: that if any point of the Catholik doctrine seeme vnto them difficil & strange: it is for that they estraunge them-selues from vs, and are altogether vnacquainted with our groundes and reasons, and not that [Page] we are so vngrounded and vnreasonable, as they imagyn. I could exemplify this in all the points of our faith, that are in cōtrouersie betwixt vs and them, if this present treates and discours would admitt so large a discours. But because I know that kynd of proceeding wil here be thought altogether superfluous: therfore in briefe manner and for a taste I wil explicate the state of the Catholik doctrine touching onely such perticulers as concerne the matter & subiect of this insuing relation, which I wil shew how they stand with the verdict of God his holy woord, & first I wil begin with Pilgrimages.

It is a sure and certaine veritie which the Catholik churche alwayes confesseth, that God is in euery place: for so he himself hathHierem. 23. avouched, that he filleth both heauen and earth, and therefore there is no place where in he may not be honoured and called vpon. Yet, as our lord hath sanctified some particulerExod. 20 dayes for his seruice, so hath he made choice of some perticuler places where in he wouldThe vse o [...] Pilgrimages [...] oo [...]ed by holy scripture. be particulerly honoured For he cōmaunded Abraham to offer his sonne Isaac vpon one certaine determinate hil. Iacob had by vision that the mount Bethel was a place of extraordinarie sanctitie, and for that cause he sayd. Quam terribilis est locus iste? non est hic aliud nisi domus Gen. 12. dei, & porta cals. How dread ful is this place? this place is nothing els but the hows of God, and the gate of heauen. Which [Page] asseueration of the Patriarch, our Lord did so much approoue, that he took to himself theGem 31 title of that place saying to the sayd, Iacob Ego sum Deus Bethel▪ I am the God of Bethel. So Hore [...] was called the mountaine of God, which our Lord esteemed so holy, that he caused Moyses Exod. 3. his especial seruant to put of his shooes inDēt. 12. honour and reuerence thereof. Finally our Lord made choice of one particul [...]r place, in which only, he would haue his people to offer3 Reg. 1 sacrifise vnto him: where when Salomon had erected his Teple he bese [...]hed God not onely to bestow certaine perticuler preuileges and miraculous fauours vpon such as prayed there in, and vpon such straungers as came from farr Cuntries in pilgrimage thither, but vpon all such as should in their prayers turn their faces towards the holy place, when vpō other iust impediments they could not performe their deuotions in the holy Temple it self. Which māner of worshipping God (by pilgrimages) ended not after wards, for that our Sauiour fore-told the Samaritane that: Ver [...]es hora quando ne (que) in monte hoc, ne (que) in Hieros [...]lymus a dorab [...]iss Patrem. The hovver shal come vvhē I [...]. 4. neither in this hyl, nor in Ierusalem You shal adore the Father. Which was sayd because the Hebrues were to be expelled out of these places, where by their sacrifices (meant by the word adoration) should cease, and should not be tyed any longer to one place as they were before, but that his soueraine worship and adoration [Page] should be more frequent, so that no place should be depriued of the same.

True, Yea most true was that predictiō, that the Father of heauen should neither be in the former sort adored either in Garizim or in Hierusalem, yet were it very fond to inferre thereM 4. 2 [...]. vpon: that he should haue no external worship, or churches, or places for the adminis [...]tratiō Luc. 24. Act. 21. of his diuine Sacramentes in all the world besydes: or that the auncient laudable vse of Pilgrimages should be abrogated for the tyme to come. For we read the cōtrarie: how our Lord would haue his Apostles goe from Hierusalem in Pilgrimage into Galile, there to see him after his Resurrection. We read thatAct. 20. he led them out of Hierusalem into Bethania to the mount Oliuet there to be present at his glorious Ascension. We read that he commaūded them to Hierusal [...], there to receaue the holy [...]hoste. Moreouer we read that Saict Paul made [...]lōg Pilgrimage vnto Hierusalem to keep there is Pentecos [...] or whitsontyd. And I dare say that [...] Scripturist can shew me by any plaine [...]cripture either of Christ or of his Apostles, [...]at the vse of deuout Pilgrimages were or [...]er should be prohibited to Christians.

Neither doth it any whit alter the case in [...]at these Pilgrimages or iourneys & walkes [...] deuotiō are made to certaine places, where the Saincts of God are honoured. For as they are not Saincts but principally by the mercieSainctes are to be honoured. and grace of God: so what honour is exibited vnto them, is in regard that they are the honorable [Page] frendes of God, and consequently itI [...]a. 4 [...]. hath his principal reference to God. Who although he say that he wil not giue his honourIoh. 12. to any other; yet hath he promised to honour his Saincts & true seruants. Therfore there is no reason that any man shoūld be scrupulousPsal. 13 [...]. to say & auouche with the Prophet Dauid, Mihi autem ni [...]s honorati sunt a [...]ci tui Deus Thy frendes o God are exceedingly honoured of me. NeitherGen. 18. need any feare to adore and worship them, as Abraham and diuers other diuine illuminatedIo [...]ue 5. 4 Reg. 1. 4. Reg. 2. Saincts did his holy Angels and frendes. For although Sainct Peter would not permitt Cornelius the Centutiō to adore him, and although the Angel refused the adoration of Sainct Iohn Yet may we not argue that therfore the foresayd Saincts or Angels, or holy deuout peopleIudi. 13. did err, sinne and offend, either in admitting, or yeelding the foresayd honors and adorations:Act. 10. Apoc. 1 [...] & 2 [...]. nor that they consequently (who shal follow their deuotions to-wards God his Saincts) are in any sorte to be reprehended for the same.

As for the refusal of S. Peter, it is euident, that he would not be adored as a God, and therfore he told his Caiechumenus, that he was a man. And as for Sainct Iohn I dare be so bold as to thinck, that he was not [...]o grosse, as to offer twice to cōmit Idolatrie, or to offer that reuerence which was vnfitting for the Angel, or displeasing to Almightie God: for to impute so heynous an offence vnto him, proceedeth [Page] of too too muddie a conceit, of so high, so wise, so illuminated a Prophet, Apostle, & the [...]e [...] [...]. Aug: [...]. 6 in [...]. 5 Greg Lib [...]7. Mo [...]l. C [...]. 11. & hom [...] in E. [...]s [...] Bed An el Ruper [...]. in 19. Apoc. eagle of all the Euangelists. Vnderstand therfore that in that contention in humilitie betwixt those two holy frendes, is shrined vp a further mysterie: and by the double deuotion of this belooued of our Lord, cōclude that Angels and Saincts (who as our Sauiour sayeth shal be in heauen li [...]e to Angels) may be worthely honoured, worshiped, and adored. Honou [...]ed, worshiped and adored I s [...]y, not with that soueraine honour, worship, and adoration, which is onely due to the supremeMath 22 Maiestie of God: but in a far [...]e inferior manner, according to their excellencie and dignitie wherewith God hath indued them. For the giftes of God as beeing of God, are worthie to be honoured & regarded & the persons also vnto whome he cōte [...]reth them.

I know the modester sorte of our contradictors (seeing that we are commaunded toVV [...] honour is due to Saincte. Exod. [...] pron 2 [...]. 1. Pet. 2. Leui. 32. honour our Parents, our Princes, our Elders and betters) wil easily graunt that the Saincts of God should haue their place of honour, as beeing in greater heigth, glorie, and dignitie about the rest: but to pray vnto them, that they thinck very vnmeet and inc [...]nuenient. Which inconuenience I could neuer hetherto see, although I haue read diuers things obiectedvvhether vve may pra [...]to saincts against suche prayers. What? do they thinck that the Saincts beeing now ioyned with God, wil not pray for vs, who so charitably [Page] prayed for their frendes, and enimies whyle they liued in this worldly banishement2. M [...]ch. 15. Apoc 5. & [...]. 2. P, [...]. See the contrarie practised by Onim & H [...]eremie after their deathes: consider▪ what the Seniors and the Angel did in the the Apocalips? and note how Sainct Peter promised the same, after his departure out of this lyfe. Is it that the prayers of Saincts are of no valew in heauen, which were of that miraculous efficacie whyle they liued here on earth? Is it for that God regardeth not his Saincts when they are once dead? Who told Isa [...]c after his blessedGen 26. Fathers deceasse that. Benedicentur in s [...]mine tuo omnes Gentes terra, eo quod obedierit Abraham voci [...]a, & custodier [...] precepta & mandata mea, & ceremon [...]as leges [...] [...] seruauerit. All the nations of the earth shal be blessed in thy seed▪ for so much as Abrahā obeyed my voice and kept my preceptes and comaund [...]mente [...] & obserued▪ my ceremonies and lavves. Is it for that God can not, wil not, or doth not let them vnderstand our prayers and necessities? O then the ignorance of Iacob, who blessing the sonues of Ioseph prayed vnto his good Angel, who hardGen. 4 [...]. him not, saying, Angelus qui eruit me [...] cuni [...]is m [...]lis b [...]nedicat pu [...]ris ist [...]s. The Angel that hath deliuered me from all my daungers blesse these boyes. Ah what ment the Angel Rap [...]ael to tel old To [...]e thatTob. 12. though he stood before the throne of God, yet did he offer the holy mannes prayers teares and good workes to his diui [...]e [...]ia [...]llie? Is it for that their prayers should derog [...]te from Christs mediatiō? And why should that happen vnto them more now that they are [Page] with God, then when they liued here amōgst mortal men? Yea, I say whosoeuer thincketh that the mediation of Christ and of his Saintes for vs are of one nature, and condition, is extremely ignorant of the Catholik doctrine,Hovvour sauiour is our media [...]r and here [...]is Sainctes. & of the meaning of holy Scripture touching this point, and consequently very injurious to the honour and dignitie of our blessed Redeemer: Who is not our mediator by praying for vs, as his Saincts do, but by his ful satisfaction for our sinne, to his fathers Iustice, and by the meanes of his most sacred death & passion. Is it finally for that God loueth vs more then his Saincts▪ knoweth better then they our necessities? or for that he inuiteth vs to come vnto him? and for that it is needles to take a longer way when the shorter is more speedie & profitable? why thē should we pray for our selues? or one for another, beeing so sinful wretches, & clogged with innumerable imperfections, & not rather vse the assistance of Gods blessed frendes, who might offer vp vnto him the prayers of our vnworthines, & with their most honourable & pleasing intercession, grace and succour vs before the feareful throne of his dread Maiestie▪

By this euery one may see, how Catholiks in honouring Gods Saincts, thereby more honour God himself: and in praying vntoPs. l. 101 them practise more their humiltie towardes him: of whome the Psalmist singeth: Res [...]e [...] in oratio [...]em humilium. Our lord hath regarded the prayer of humble men. [Page] And in this forte, I beseech them to vnderstand,VVv Catholiks honon [...] the Images of God & his Sainctes. (yt so they please) that we Catholikes are very far from either iuiurving or dishonouring God, or his Saincts, in that we make & honour their pictures and images, thereby the more to expresse, and professe the honour▪ and reuerence we beare vnto our God, & to his happie heauēly frendes. We know that those that sclaūder vs for dooing these things, can kneel before the Councel table, & stand reuerently vncouered before his Maiesties [...]haire of estate, without any fear of treason, or lose Maiestie. We blame them not, we thinck they haue reason for this their dooing, In the name of God, let them haue also a charitable conceipt of Catholikes actions, and learne to vnderstand the motiues & groundes thereof. Then shal they see that we make no more of an image, then of an image: which is, a representation of the thing or person, whose image it is: & whē we honour it, we honour either at the sight thereof the person of honour whome it representeth, or we honour it for that it is an honorable representation of such an honorable personage. And when we reueretly kneeling pray before it, we offer our prayers to that person in heauen, whose presence by the picture is the more setled & imprinted in our myndes. There is scarce any man so barbarous [...]o be found, but taketh pleasure to see the images of his Prince, Parē tes, and frendes to be regarded & vsed honorably [Page] for their sakes: as on the cōtrarie it much molesteth and griueth them, to see them disgraced, stabd, or troden vnder foot in demonstrationStovv in his An [...]les. Anno [...] Arg El [...]a. of the hatred that is borne to the persons whose images they are. Yea such actions seeme to offend them asmuch, (if not more) as any iniurious and contumelious wordes v [...]tered against them. Our Contrie afoordeth vs herein a most memorable example, to witt in the araignemēt of that pha [...]atical wretch vvilliam Hacket who although he had most blasphemously termed him-self Iesus Christ: Yet (as Iohn Stovv writeth was he by two indi [...]emētes foūd giltie, & acordingly condemned and executed, for hauing spoken diuers most falce & traiterous wordes against her Maiestie, (he sayeth nothing out of the sayd iditem [...]ts of his most detestable blasphemie & treasō against God) & for hauing razed and defaced her Maiesties armes, as also a certain picture of the Queenes Maiestie, and did malicio sly, and traiterousely thrust an iron instrument into that part of the sayd picture, that did represēt the breast & hart of the Queenes Maiestie. Which things seemed so heyuous, that the iudges thought it more meet to condemne and execute him as a traitour to the Prince, then as an abhominable accursed violatour of the most soueraine Maiestie of the high king of heauen. And so he was. Whereby it appeareth how they thought her Maiestie iniuried and disgraced, [Page] by the iniurie & disgrace which the said caiti offered vnto her armes and image Vpon which consideration I would aske, what punishmēt they haue merited, that haue so dispitefuly & barbarously thrown down māgled and tro [...]den vnder their accursed sinful feet the Pictures of God himself, and of his blessed Mother, & of his holy Saincts? which outrage they committed, to shew them-seluesVVhy Catholikes let vp the Images of God & his [...] ctes. contrarie to the Catholiks: Who, as for the loue, honour, and deuout memorie of God and his holy ones they set vp their Images in their Churches, Oratories, & other honorable places of their Cities and Cuntries: so these people being desirous to manifest the opposition of their myndes, to the intentions of the Catholiks, & to shew how they detested their meaning, they pulled them down, and by diuers infamous base dishonorable wayes consumed them, that thereby the world might see their hatred towards God, their contempt of his di [...]ine Maiestie, and how they desired to raze out of the memories of men whatsoeuer by holy pictures w [...]re represented vnto them: Neither can they excuse this their impietie, by their old spu [...]galled allegations of the twentith of Exodus by the fifth of the first of S. Iohn, and such like places, by them-selues falcely and with most vngo [...]ly iniquitie corrupted. Putting into the text Images for Idols, as though they nothing differed. Which interpretatiō yf we should ad [...]it, [Page] then, who soeuer retaineth the kinges picture or armes, or the crosse of Christ in his coine, whosoeuer hath his parentes or frēdes pourtraitures, whosoeuer hangeth vp in his hows tapistrie wh [...]rein are figured men, beastes, foules, fishes, trees or hearbes, whosoeuer hath his armes of gentrie, or beareth his MaistersSee Fox his bookes of Actes. cognisance, is made culpable of a most h [...]inous [...]inne against God, and is made giltie of eternal damnation. Yet can their Fox set them out the pictures of his Martyrs, and his people may gaze vpon them. The images of vv [...]lef, Luther, Hus, Mela [...]thon, Caluin, & of such Apostata condemned cōpanions may be painted, sold, & hanged vp in euery ones hows to be tooted vpon. Yea in dishonour of the Pope, Cardinalles, Bishops, Priestes, Monkes, and Nunnes many ridiculous shapes may be deuised to recreate and make merry our gospelling brethren and sisters, without any peril of Idolatrie, or breache of Gods cōmaundements, although their Minister crie to them from the communion table, that thow shalt not make to thy self any grauen image, nor any likenes of that which is in heauen aboue, nor in the earth beneath, nor in the waters vnder the earth. Yet one sorte of images they can allow to be made to them▪selues, which they wil buy, set vp in their roomes and decēt places of their howses, & there grauely glote vpon them, because they thinck the persons there pointed, to be [...]ightes of the gospel, [Page] chosen trumpettes of the truth great frende [...] of the lord, & what not? The other sorte they can diuise, which wil also be sold, & bought, to iybe & scoff at, and that in contempt of the Praelates, and principal members of the Catholik Church, whome they hate and dispise with their hartes. In both these kyndes of pictures they can fyn [...] a relation either in good or bad manner to the persons whome they represent, but the pictures of Christ and of his holy Saincts, must needes be Idols: they can represent nothing that is good, or1. Cor 2. worthie veneration. So it is that Ani malis homo non percipit ea quae sunt spiritus Dei. The sensual man perce [...]ueth not those thing: that are of the Spirit of God. For if those people were in deed so spiritual, as they are often ver [...]e prec [...]e forsooth [...] their wordes, they would easilie [...]iscerue an Idol from an Image. For i [...] they wil daigne to view what is set before the first commaundement, & what insueth, they shal fynd that our Lord beginneth with: I am thy lord thy God &, Afterwards,Exo. 20. Thou shalt haue no strage God [...] before m [...]. And after that: Thou shalt not make to thy self [...]y car [...]ing & And then addeth: Thou shalt not adore thein or vvorship them: I am the lord t [...]y strong God &c. Where they may see, that he forbiddeth to make vnto them-selues carued Gods, which are Idols. For he is the lord God. And that they should not yeeld diuine adoration and worship vnto them: which is Idolatrie.Exod. 25 For he sayth, I am the lord thy strong God. Els Moys [...]s, and Salomon and God him self should [Page] haue violated this precept, in causing two Angels to be made ouer the ark, the brasen serpēt in the wildernes, to fore-signifie as by a misticalNum. 2 [...] [...]. [...]eg. 6 2. Pa [...]. 3. image, Christ vpō the crosse as our Sauiour himself expounded it: the two great Cherubes of oliue in the Holy of Holyes, with diuers other Cherubene [...]. palme trees, & sundrie other pictures. And it were right impious to say, that t [...]e holy Prophet Ezech [...]l cómitted Idolaerie, [...]zec [...]. 1. 2. for ado [...]ing God in the likenes and similitude of a man: or to blame God him-self for thatGen. 9. he wil haue man to be respected because he is his image. And therfore he threatneth to pū nish those persons most seuerely▪ that shal vniustly shed the blood of Man, for that he is the image of God: as yf thereby he would forbid men to abuse, break, and consume his image: and here vpon conclude, the image of God is good, therfore it may be had, therfore it may be honoured for his sake.

The reason of which doctrin (yf thou markeThe ground and reason of al these pointes. wel curteoꝰ reader) cōsisteth in these poincts? First, to worship and honour God for himself, as being the Fountaine of all goodnes: then his saincts, for that he hath imparted and deriued vnto them the abundance of his vnspeakeable graces and glorie: & so the images of them both are to be worshiped as their representations, and for that they notably apertaine vnto them: and thus consequently Catholiks do very wel if for the honour of God and of his Saincts, they discreetely and [Page] orderly loue, and reuerence any thing that concerneth them. Which honour and reuerence as they may professe with their mouthes, or by their wordes, so may they manifest the same accordingly and in the same degree, by their outward gestures and actions. For which cause they are much to be blamed who blame the deuotions of Catholiks, for honouring the Reliques of Saincts, or such things as belong vnto them, or to their very images. As we see the good deuout Catholiks here, for the honour they beare to God, to worship his worthie Mother and for her worship, they reuerence her Image: & for the reuerence of her Image, they beare also a reuerent esteeme of the very wood of the tree wherein the said Image was placed. Acording to that which is recorded in Exodus: where the [...]xod. [...]. Angel that apeared for God to Moyses in the fiery bush, was for that cause honored with the title of God: and for the sayd Angel his more reuerence, Moyses was prohibited to aproach neer vnto the bush wherein he appeered: & in regard of the bush, th [...] very moū taine where it grew was accounted so holy, that Moyses must put of his shooes, and walk vpon it bare-foot for the honour there of. And at other tymes, our lord would so honour the cloak of E [...]as, the dead corps of Elize [...]s, the4 Reg. [...] 4 Reg 1 [...] Act 5. Act. 1 [...]. shadow of the body of Sainct Peter, the napkins of Sainct Paul, and the like of other sainctes, that at their presence or bare touching he would woork most admirable miracles, & [Page] bestow most gratious benefites vpon his people, because the▪ sayd things did belong vnto his honorable Saincts,

And this may suffice in brief to declare by holy Scripture, the reason of the Catholike Churches saith and practise, in these matters, where-in the ignorant of the Catholike doctrin, or such as by the ignorance or mallice of others are ill persuaded there-of, may be offended, in rea [...]ing this ensuing treates. As for other things (which also vnto them may seeme strange) they shal (if they please to inquire) fynd them so plaine and euident in the word of God, as none but they that are altogether ignorant of the word of God, or beleeue not the Scriptures can haue any scrupule therein. As, how grateful a thing it is to God discreetely & deuoutly to ma [...]e vowes vnto him, and for his honour to offer vnto him (for the beautifiing of such places where he wil be honoured) parte, of their wordly welth, [...]ew els or such things as by thē are held in price.

For the first, we haue the counsel of the Royal Prophet saying: Ven [...]. & reddite Dommo To make holy and discrete vo [...]re [...]is is very acceptable to God. Psal. 7 [...]. Deo vestro: omnes qui in circu [...] e [...]us affertis munera. Make [...] and fulfil them to your Lord God: all you that round about [...] bring him your presents And vpon the assurednes of this doctrine the same Prophet sayd. Vota [...] roddam [...] consp [...]ctu [...]menti [...] cum: I v [...]il render my v [...]vves in the sight of such as fear [...] our lord.

And for the second: we read how Moyses by [Page] the commaundement of God persuaded hisThe o [...] ferings of the faithful are much pleasing to God. Exod. 35 36. Math. 26 Israelites, to shew their liberallitie in adorning of the Tabernacle. Wherein they were so zealous and forward, that Moyses was constrained to restraine them by expresse commaundement and sound of trumpet. And although some with the sonne of Isc [...]r [...]t crie out. Vt quid perditio haec? vvhat a l [...]sse is this, for it v [...]ere better to giue it to the poor. Yet the deuout Christian shal haue Christ to beare him out, for powring with the deuout Magdolen his precious oyles vpon his sacred head, and for making moderate and discreet largesse of his temporal goodes acording to his abilitie, in honorably setting forth the worship & places of worship of his God.

I do not think (louing Reader) but many oppositions wil be made both against these things which I haue here sayd, as also against sundrie other matters which are contayned in the historie following: for we haue to deal with an incredulous, prowd, contradicting generation. Thow maist wel iudge that al can not here be sayd, that may be sayd. Wherefore I assure thee, that if thow wilt but manifest thy difficulties to those that are learned and instructed in the groundes of the Catholyk Religion, thou shalt fynd ful and perfect satisfacton, and thou shalt euidently see, that what soeuer is obiected against these matters, are but either meer doubtes, or strained: [...]ations, or f [...]lce and friuolous collections, or vacharitable [Page] railing or their own forged inuentions, or lying headles reportes, or vnciuil and vngodly sco [...]fing and iesting, or such like tru [...] perie.

Be thou therfore fully persuaded of this poinct: that as God is the truthe it self, and as the deuil is the father and author of lyes, so God wil not haue his cause defended and maintained, but by the onely truthe, and he detesteth whatsoeuer is taken out of his enimies shoppe. As God and the deuil can neuerThe cause of God vvil no [...] be suppor ted by lye [...]. agree, so truthe and lyes can neuer conforte together, and it is either great ignorance or impietic to thinck, that Gods cause either is, or euer can be driuen to so hard an ex [...]gent, that it must be supported and held vp by such broken stuffe. True it is, a ly may go masked vnder such a veil that it may be takē for truth, by such as are not curious to note & marck the car [...]age thereof: but the nature of man beeing alwayes amourous of the tru [...]he, and ielous that fal [...]hood should fo [...]ste her-self into the place of truthe, the wiser forte are more dain [...]ie and nice to admitt any thing, vntil vpon serious examination they haue looked more diligently into matters: Where vpō it happeneth, that tyme and diligence trying truthe, falshood is ferrited out to her more detestation, her authours greater shame, and the future safegard of those that were in peril to haue bene gulled by her. So that vpon this consideration thou maist confidently conclude, [Page] that if the Catholyk Religion were backed and bolstred vp by such bad dealing, (as all here [...]ikes lowdly but more lewdly au [...]uche) itNote this euident expe [...]ce. had bene ruined long ere this. But we experience the contrarie to our comfort & astonishment: that so many heretikes hauing risen in all the quarters and cuntries of the world, who by open lying, cunning conueiance of tongue, & tyrannical force, omitting nothing, that might ouerthrow either all, or the greatest parte of our holy beleef: although they haue wrested many notable partes of Europe out of the armes and bosome, of our deer Mother the Catholyke Churche, yet hath she regained treble (at least) her losse in the Indiaes: and the pointes also which they haue so long battred at, haue bene the more learnedly, perspicuously & heroically defended, more [...]eruently imbraced, and more zelously practised, then perhaps they euer were in former ages. And so it cometh to passe, that we see now Sacramental Confession more vsed, the holy M [...]sse more frequented, the blessed Sacrement more honoured, Reliques of Sainctes and their Images more reuerenced, Pilgrimages more haunted, the Popes pardons more desired, Religious Congregations in greater number and better order, the Churches precepts more obeyed, yea and the Pope (against whome al Heretikes chiefely shoot) more respected & reuerenced, and his dignitie power and prerogatiues more cōfessed by Kings, Princes, Praeiates, the learned [Page] and common sorte of all kingdoms, and nations then euer before. Whyle the heretiks who at the beginning were but in fewe sectes, are now almost in euery kingdome and common wealth where they are permitted▪ rent & torne in to so many different synagogues, fa [...]thes, and professions, eche one writing, wra [...]g [...]ing, railing & raging against other, and according to their power, one faction corporally punnishing and plaging the other, that as we perce [...]ue their s [...]ctes dayly to increace, so w [...] see the professors of ech sect to decrease, and either to return again to the Catholike Church, or to s [...]r abroache newe doctrines of their owne, or finally to care for no Faith, no Churche, no Religion, and no God at all.

And thus we see the old saying prooue true that a [...]heisme is the natural impe of heresie. For men hauing entred thereby in [...]o a wrangling, contradi [...]ious, proud, selflyking, froward, & [...]istrusting humor: they wil yeeld to nothing if they cā any way shift it of: whereby not onely faith in matters that are supernatu [...]al and surpassing our vnderstanding, but euen humane or common credence, sence and iudgement, is as it were wholy extinguished, and amongst men dayly more and more decayeth. W [...]o knoweth no [...] that as too has [...]ie creduli [...]e proceedeth o [...] simplicitie and weakenes of w [...], so that it is a signe of a wicked vicious mynd [...]o be too difficile & res [...]ie in beleeuing: for such persons beeing either suspicious of [Page] other mennes honestie and fidelitie, or knowi [...]g how proue they themselues are to deceiue and circumuent others to their power, they are very hardly induced to trust any. The mean therfore is to be chosen, which is there to submitt our selues where reason and sufficient authoritie may seeme iustly to exact it of vs. A [...] (to exemplifie in the present matter of these miracles here related) what greater reasō should moue a reasonable man then to see so many and such wounderful miracles dayly to be wrought in things appe [...]taining to matters of faith and religion? Whereby, not onely the people of the cuntrie, but strangers of forrein nations, not onely persons of the commō sorte but the most praecellent in dignitie and nobilitie, not onely those of the ordinary and common intendement, but the most lea [...]ned and instructed in all kynd of literature and knowledge, not onely priuate howsholds and families, but the very Magistrates and Communities of Cities and Prouinces are driuen into vnspeakeable admiration and astonishment. Who after all the diligent searche exami [...]ation and inquisition which either by witt, industrie, learning, authoritie, and conscience they were able to vse, they could neuer hitherto fynd the least suspition of any fraud or iniquitie: but rather they are forted to confesse the miraculous finger of God in ech thing, whereby it pleaseth him in such admirable sorte to honour his mo [...]e sacred Mother, to cōfort his grieued [Page] & afflicted childré, to animate the more faithful, to cōfi [...]m the feeble wauerers, & to reduce those that are in error vnder the gouernment and due obedience of the true pastors of their soules.

When Iesu [...] in the field of Iericho beheld theIosue 5. Angel of God with his naked sword in his hand, who declared vnto him that he was the Prince of the army of our Lord, vndoubtedly he was exceedingly glad of that vision, to see that he, and his army had such a guyd, and protector from heauen. As it is also reported of the people of God, that they were singulerly comforted & encouraged to fight against their enimies, after they had hard their Iudas Ma [...]nab [...]us relate vnto thé his dreame, wherein2 M [...]ch. 15. he saw O [...]ias the high priest and Hieremie the Prophet [...]arnestly praying for them, and that from Hieremie he had receiued a golden swordA cōsort for di [...] tre [...]ed Catholike. with these wordes. Take the holy svvord a gift sent thee from God▪ in vvhich thou shalt abase and bring vnder the aduersaries of my people of Israel. In like manner what Catholikes are their, who amiddest so many aduersaries of their faith and religion, stand enuironed and are on euery side battred with sclaunders and calumniations, both against their faith and persons, impouer shed by the losse of their goods, disgraced by depriuation of their dignities, restrained by imprisonments, tossed by ielouses, inquiries and searches, consumed with inward & outward torments & most barbarous cruel [Page] bloudie deathes; what Catholikes are there (I say) who seeing the hand of God stretched out by heauēly fignes to approoue & honour the cause of these their suffrings, but must needes feel in them-selues an vnspeakeable ioy and iubilation, and to be thereby exceedingly inflamed to maintaine & confesse a cause, from heauen so mightily and powrably defended, not by the sword and presence onely of an Angel, not onely by the intercessions of an [...]t or of a Hieremie, but by the fauourable a [...]e of the high Queen of Angels, prophets, and Sainctes the most blessed Mother of our God Christ Iesus? where, we behold not by the relation of others, but immediatly by our selues, not in a dreame or obscu [...]e vision, but with our corporal eies, not onely one golde sword, but so many works of heauenly p [...]wer, as so many swords to hewe do vn al such aduersaries as band them selues against God and his holy Catholike Church. Which is a matter of that consequence, that i [...] our aduersaries either by any of their Ministerie, or by any rite of their religion could haue cured in this sorte but one lame dog it should haue rung farr & neere, and wounder [...]ul trophese should haue bene raised in memorie thereof.

Marck therfore (Catholik brother) and with due gratitude behold how liberal God hath bene to thee in these things, thereby to solace thee in the throng of so many miseries and contrarieu [...]s. Whilest the vngodly [...]ri [...]d [Page] vpon the Princes & Parlaments against poor Catholiks: Exina [...]ite Exin [...]ite vsque ad fundament [...] Psal. 135 in [...]a. Downe with the Papists, let vs root them out let vs disgrace them, begger them, take their guydes and pastors from the face of the ea [...]th, that so no memorie may remaine of them. Not-withstanding behold (O Catholik)Psal. 44. Pro patribus t [...]is [...]ati sunt [...]ibi fil [...]. When thy old Pastors began to be worne out, and to be weeded away, a new of spring arose, with their learning to instruct thee, with their vertuous example to direct thee, with their dayly prayers and sacrifices to assist thee, with their patience and indurance to confirm thee, with heir deathes & blood spilt to incourage thee, and to gaine others. (euen of thyne aduersaries) to confesse and imbrace the same faith with thee. Is this to see how natural effects follow their natural causes? how [...]claúders defame, authoritie disgraceth, lawes restraine, welth worketh, force keepeth downe, pouertie deiect [...]th, torments [...]errific, & death consumeth? No, but rather thou maist see the old admirable signes renued again amongst vs.Dan. [...].

The three children to walk singing at their ease in the fierie fornace, Iesus to heale theIoh. 9. blynd by daubing durt vpon his eies, cōtraries to worke contraries, and that now again that may be sayd of thyne afflicted which the holy Ghost once recorded of the blessed Apostles: Ib [...]t ga [...]den [...]es a consp [...]ct [...] co [...]e [...]ly, quoni [...] digni habiti [...]. 5. [Page] sunt pro nomine Iesu contumeliam p [...]ti. They went reioycing from the sight of the councel, because they were accounted worthie to suffer reproache for the name of Iesus. Verilie, theseMany mir [...]les h [...]u bin vvrought [...]m [...]ngst C [...]tholike [...] in Engl [...]nd in the time of their persecution as could be particulerly let dovvn yf it might be vvith. o [...] the pe [...] of those to whom th [...]y haue happened. [...] are most admirable miracles: although there had bene amongst you no sick cured, no deuils expelled, no apparitions and straunge visions seene, none of your inhumane and bloudie Persecutors most dreadefully by the reuēging hand of God de [...]riued of their vngodly and accursed liues Al which most admirable workes of God because I know our aduersaries wil either contemne, or ascribe to other subtilties, or humaine casuallities: therfore behold here before thyne eies, the miracles related in this book, and esteeme of them (as they are) most admirable, most knowne, most approoued.

What can the derider contradictor or persecutor of our Catholik faith cau [...]l against these? what more cleer euidence can he require from heauen then these? would he haue the dread Maiestie of God to discend and sit in the clowdes, and thence to commaund him submission and reuerēce vnto these thinges? Verily he shal see our lord descend according as the Prophet Zacharie hath fore told saying: Veniet Zach. 14 Dominus, Deus meus omnes (que) sancti cum eo. The lord my God shal come and all the Sainctes vvith him. There shal [...]e see with our lord his euer blessed Mother, his Apostles and Disciples. Sainct Clement, Sainct Laurenc [...], Sainct Nicholas, Sainct Martin▪ Sàinct [Page] Gregorio, surnamed Th [...]ma [...]urgus, our S. Augustin, S. Benn [...], Sainct B [...]sil, Sainct Francis, Sainct Bernard, S▪ Edvvard, Sainct L [...]vvis, Sainct Catherm▪ Sainct C [...]cil [...] ▪ Sainct Cl [...]r [...], Sainct Br [...]g [...], with millions more all of one and our fayth: against whose miracles let him then dispute, and to make his partie good against that glorious fellowship, let him range himself with VVicl [...]f, Husse, l [...]u [...]her, C [...]uin, Bez [...]. Knox, Fox, Scr [...]k. Ro [...]man, Ho [...]per, C [...]p [...]r, Knoblouch, Grumpeck, Klup, VVh [...]le, bore▪ Io [...] Lash [...]ord, Alic [...] Driuer, and such companiōs: & let his soule take her luck & lott with these mates. Who as they cast themselues out of the Communion of the former Saincts, abandoned their faith, and banded against that Church in which they liued, and for which many of them spilt their bloud, and wrought such innumerable miracles. Let him then raile against thē for beeing Massing Popes, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Abbottes, Mounkes, Nunnes. No, no, if he do not befo [...]e that tyme alter his humor he shal vndoubtedly lifting vp his wret ched eies towardes the Sainctes of the Catholyke Church, intune with his mi [...]erable conforte that most heauie and doleful dump s [...]t down by the wise-man in these wordes. [...] quo [...] habuimus aliquando in d [...]sum & in [...] improp [...]ri [...]. Nos [...]nsens [...]i vitam illorum [...]stim [...]bamus [...], & sin [...] mllorum sin [...] henor [...]: E [...]ce qu [...]m▪ do Sap. 5. computati sunt inter filios De [...], & inter sanctos sors illorum est, &c. These are they vvhome sometymes vve had in derisi [...], & [...]ld like to infamie: VVe senc [...]le [...] people did [...] their lyfe ma [...]nes, and their [...]nd vvi [...]hout ho [...]: [Page] Behold hovv they are reckned amongst the sonnes of God, and theyr lott is amongest his holy ones: Therfore, vve haue erred f [...]om th [...] vvay of truthe, and the light of i [...]s [...]ic [...] hath not shyned vnto vs▪ VVhat hath our prid [...] profited vs? or vvhat hath the glorie of our riches yeelded vs▪ All those things are vanished avv [...]y like a shaddovv. &c. These and the like complaints shal they yell out who for their sinnes and want of true faith are in the day of our Lord to be bānished for euer frō his face, to the mansion of all calam [...]ties. For, vvithout faith it is impossible to please God. Heb. 11. Eph 4. And there is but one true sauing faith, as there i [...] but one God by w [...]ome we must be saued as the holy Apostle affirmeth. Therfore (louing reader) if thou thinckest in thy cōscience, & as thou wilt answere it before the dreadful iudgement seat of God, that thou hast found any where more solid and euident proofes for the true faith then are to be foūd in the Catholi [...], Apostolik, and Romane Churche, (as it is impossible) there hazard thou thy soule. If not: then beware that our iust Lord at the vncertaine hower of thy most certaine death reuenge not himself on thy soule for thy contempt vsed towardes him, in respecting or preferring any worldly, carnal, transitorie bable of this life, before his souereigne Maiestie. Thou seest what admirable motiues he hath assoorded thee, whereby thou maist also perceiue how deerly he loueth thee & tendreth thy saluatiō, although he hath no need of thee. Shew thy self therfore grateful [Page] for this his grace, that after this lyfe he may make thee also pertaker of his eternal glorie: for which first he created thee, and afterwardes most mercifully redeemed thee, and vnto which now by these his diuine workes he most louingly inuiteth thee.

THE PREFACE OF THE AVTHOR.

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WEe giue thee here (louing Reader) a brief rebearsal of such thinges as concerne the place of Montaigue nere [...]o the towne of Sichē in the Duchie of Brabāt: VVee haue also set downe the miracles which haue [...]apned there of late, by the merits and inter [...]ession of the glorious virgin Marie, Yet not all, but only those that are prooued and veri [...]ed by pu [...]like wrytings and attestations of Magistrates, and other authenticall declarations: aswel to preuent therby the slaunders of h [...]ret [...]kes, as also for the better information & satisfactiō of good Catholikes. As for the he e [...]kes, they haue all [...]ayes had an ancient custome with great vehemenciē to calu [...]ate and blame those things in the Catholike Romaine Church, which they in their synagogs li [...]t not to beleeue. And before thē [Page] the Pharisies vsed the like, who ascribed the miracles of our Sauiour and his disciples to the power of the Diuell. This all sectaries that haue bene since the beginning in the Church haue allwayes imitated, and the beret [...]kes of our dayes do still verie markablie practize, who beganne their heresies by vttering blasphemses against the Moother of God and his Satnctes. And pullskly not onlie in their talk, but also in their writings, bragging them-selues to be Image-breakers.

A certaine pamphlet in flemmish came of late to our handes printed and composed (as it seemeth) by seme pernicious Caluinist of Holland against the honour donne to the Moother of God at Mountaigue. In which pamphlet he writeth execrable blasphemies, he forgeth fables & lyes against those of the Church, he basely scosseth at the pi [...]tie of Princes & Lordes of the Countrie, and at all such as loue and serue the glorious virgin And sinallie he endeuereth by lyes to deface and obscure the honour donne to God and his blessed Mother. Howbeit this companion and all such like night-o [...]les wil they wil they, must needes endure the most cleare light which e [...]r lord maketh dayly to [...]lase before our eyes, to his owne and his Moothers glorie: and through the euidence of theise miracles, they [Page] must ly trodden vnder the feet of this woman, together with the old serpent their head and captaine.

And in vaine shal their labor bee that endeuour to hinder the Sunne to giue his light vnto the earth, the will of our Lord beeing such as the truth shall clerelie be seene, and pterce through the most obscure and duskie clowdes of heresies, Farre more proffitable therefore and holesome would it be for them to open the windowes of their hartes and to let these diuine beames enter in. And what beames can be more cleere or of more force, then these so palpable arguments & euident demonstrations of the pure & sincere veritie. Doe not these (I beseeche you) so apparent miracles crie out the verie same that our Sauiour speaketh in the ghospel? If you beleeue not me, beleeue the woorks which I doe. And that which the Parents of the blynd man sayd. Enquire of him, he is of age, he will answere for him-self, he is thirtie yeares old.

These corrupters of the truth think to abuse the simple people, telling them that Catholikes woorship Idols, and that they honour the virgin Marie as if she were a goddesse, and adore Images: but this is an old song so often by them chaunted, so often disputed, and in such sorte refuted [Page] as there is no Catholike of so siēder indgemen [...] who knoweth not the blessed virgin to be honored as a Patronesse and Aduocate to her Sonne and not as a Goddesse, and that the honor donne to her Image hath relation to her person and not to ber Image. And m [...]r [...]o [...]er that all manner of adoration whether it be Latria, Dulia, or Hyperdulia must not be taken or vnderstood according to the outward woork & apparence but according to the intention of the partie from whome it proceedeth.

After an other sorte this may in like manner be proffitable to Catholikes. for somuch as there are some amongst them who seeme to doubt of these miracles, for diuersmen by a certaine kynd of incredulitte, and others vpon a spirit of contradiction either deny that these are miracles, or they will not beleeue, that they haue verely bene wrought. Vnto these wee must say that which our Sauiour sayd vnto Sainct Thomas. Come and feele &c. Yf they will not yeeld credit to that which wee set downe, let them goe and see, and feele with their fingers, or else enquire the veritie of those who haue bene cured, for I am assured they shall fynd good store of them. And if after this they will not yet beleeue, assure your selues (as Aristotle sayd of those that denyed the principles of sciences) that they [Page] do it for want of witte and iudgement, or els it must be beaten into their braynes with beetles or bastinadoes.

There are also others who take occasion to doubt hereof, because many hauing bene miraculously cured, did not for all that obtaine their health at an instant, or at the verie place, but by litle and litle with some alteration of their bodies: vnto whome wee may by good reason answere, that to prooue a miracle it suffiseth that the operation and effect be aboue the course of nature, and not by any naturall meanes or remedies: and such are all those miracles which here in this historie wee haue sette downe.

Moreouer amongst these miracles some are more perfit and notable then some others are: amongst the more notable are esteemed those, when the diseases are cured at the verie same instant, whereof wee haue verie many, and yet the others are not without miracle, although they haue hapned in successe of tyme, because they were wrought aboue the course of nature.

For who is he that will or can deny that whē our Lord cured the blynd man it was a true and perfit miracle? who at the beginning saw men walke like trees, yet no man doubteth that he afterward receiued his perfit sight.

Neither is it any wayes repugnant to the nature [Page] of a miracle that at the tyme of their healing they feel a change or alteration either in their soules or in their bodies: for (not alleaging the other reasons which wee will set downe in the ensuing historie) who is he that knoweth of those whome our Lord & his saints miraculously cured did not feel the like also in them selues? No author nor wryter denieth or affirmeth that they were restored to their health without such alterations. And for so much as those miracles were wrought principalli [...] for the confirmation of our faith, it suffi [...]ed only to set downe the bare truth without further expressing the circumstances, or what other thinges els therin occurred. Our Lord recounted his miracles to the disciples of S. Iohn Baptist (who doubted whether he were the true Messias or no) without making any mention of the circūstance▪ or other qualities, saying: Go, tell vnto Iohn. The blynde see, the lame vvalk, the deaf heare, the leprous are made cleane, giuing vs therby to vnderstand that such cures (although he had sayd nothing) yeelded certaine & infallible proof that he was the true Messias. And whē wee heare, see, and feel the like to be donne by the merits & intercession of the glorious mother of God at the Mountaine of Mountaigue, who is hee that is so wilfully blynd as will not acknowlege the holy [Page] Catholike Romaine Church adorned and honored with such signes & miracles, to be the only spouse of Christ, the doue and beloued of our Lord, the fortresse and piller of truthe, in whoms onlie true and perfit miracles are to be found?

Awake therefore (O you misledde [...]ith heresies) open the eyes of your vnderstanding, and behold the light wherwith the God of mercies vou [...]safeth to lighten the darknes of your iniquities and ignorances. Yf he had not publikly wrought these signes and miracles that none but he is able to woork, perhaps this misguided people might in some sorte be excused: but seeing they haue had so great and manifest signes and testimonies, they shalbe inexcusable in that they do not woork their owne conuersions.

And you faithful Catholikes who for the prosperitie of our enemies, or euill successe of the affaires of our religion, or for the abuses and imperfectiō in the life & māners of those of the Church or layetie, are wont to stagger or be faint-harted, confirme and settle your selues hereby: you are in S. Peeters ship, wherin (not withstanding all waues & tempests) it pleaseth our lord to woork his miracles.

And all you that by the miracles and interces [...]ion of the glorious virgin Marie most holie Moother of God, haue re [...]eiued health or help, [Page] forbeare not to manifest the same to your superiours and others (sith it is much honorable to reueale the woorkes of God) whome wee exhort in our Lord that they giue aduertisement therof to the right Reuerend the lord Archbishop of Maclin, VVherby the name of God may be sanctified amongst vs, and that his mercie may be exalted and magnified in his Sai [...]cts. For how many so [...]u [...]r his miracles a [...]e, so many exhortatiōs and sermons they be, and which more forciblie mo [...]e the hartes of men then the sermons of any [...]e [...]e neuer so excellent for his knowlege or elequence. And for our part let vs endeuor to giue euerlasting praise to the mercie of God, who in this our miserable and afflicted state (as for the present is this of the low Countries) he vouchsafeth to send vs comfort by woorking so great and goodlie woorkes, yea such as wee think in that countrey neuer hapned the like.

Lt vs also praise the moother of God, and let vs so begge her protection as she rising once like an amiable Aurora, will disperse the darke obscuritie of our miseries, and as a most bright & faire Moone, will vouchsafe to yeeld light to those which ly in the dark night of errors and heresies, and as a cleare shyning Sunne would pearce with the beames of grace and vertue the hartes of the faithful people, which haue the [Page] feare of God: and finallie like a well [...]arshalled battaile driue all the heresies out of the woorld: and by her holie protection defend these low Countreis from all corporall and spiritual in [...]sions: by the power of him who doeth her such honor both in heauen and in earth▪

Amen.

THE HISTORIE OF THE MIRACLES WROVGHT BY THE INTERCESSION OF OVR blessed Ladie, at a place called Mountaigue, in the duchie of Brabant.

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1

THE holie scripture maketh mention of an Oke behynd the towne of S [...] chem in Palestine vnder the which Iacob buried the Idols & the Iewels that hanged at the eares of his people. And at the same Oke the Captaine Iosue renewed the couenant betwixt God and the people of Israel. Verie fitlie ought wee to sette furth the renowmed fame of the Oke which standeth nere to our Sic [...]en in the Duchie of Brabant, at the which Oke in a place vulgarly called Scherpenheuuel [Page] and in French Mountaigue before an Image of the Mother of God beeing verie simple and of litle shew (as the place it self is) it pleaseth his diuine maiestie to woork daylie many miracles, by the glorie whereof it seemeth that his desire and pleasure is that the heretikes beeing curbed, and the Catholikes made more submissiue the pride of heretikes and the idolles of other vyces might here ly buried: and that in this place he will be appeased by the prayers of good and godly Christiās: and that he will renew his friendship and alliance with the people of these low Countreis, for wee esteem the glorie of miracles to be accounted one of the most assured notes & markes of the true Church, grounded vpon the woords of our Sauiour in the ghospell saying: Such signes shall follow Marc. 16 Heb [...]. 2. those that beleeue in me. They shal lay their handes vpon the diseased & they shal be healed, &c. And the holie Apostle saith that vnto the preaching and teaching of the way of saluation, our Lord added a testimonie of his owne hand by signes, miracles, and other supernaturall works of his power. For euen as the miracles of our Lord serued [Page] for proofes to make mē beleeue that he was the true Sauiour of the world according to that which he saith in the ghospell, euen so the true and vndoubted miracles which cannot be wrought without the puissance of God, yeeld testimonie to his bodie, which is his holie Church. For which cause that most lernedDe vtilit [...]te credendi cap. 17. eodem lib. cap. 1 [...] & cō tra op. funda. cap. 4. Doctor S. Austin saith, that the Catholike Church obteined soueraigne authoritie, when heretikes were iudged and condemned by the maiestie of miracles. And in an other place, that the authoritie of the Churche began by miracles, and by the same she mainteyneth her force. And againe, the concord and vnion of all nations (saith he) together with the authoritie of miracles, holdeth mee in the holie Church. And Richard de S. Victore durst cō fidētlielib. 1. de T [...]init [...]te cap. 2. say, Lord if this be erroneous which wee beleeue, it is by thyself that wee are deceaued, for these thinges were established and confirmed amongst vs with such signes and miracles as none but thou were able to woork.

Amongst these miracles they are not the least which his diuine goodnes vouchsafed to woork euen from the beginning of the Christian cōmon wealth, [Page] in diuers places at the Images and for the honor and woorship of the Mother of God.

It is an vndoubted ancient tradition that S. Luke painted an Image of our Lady, [...]e which wee haue by the testimony of diuers credible writers and authors, as of Theodorus, Nicephorus, Metaphr [...]sies, Butlib. 14. in vita S. Luce. whether he painted more then one wee are not assured, yet this is certaine, that many Images were drawne according to that which he had first painted, and were afterwards sent to diuers places, neither ought it to be deemed impertinent that some haue attributed them to S. Luke, for somuch as they were perfit draughtes & resemblances of the originall first painted by his owne hand. Of which Images that was one, which S. Gregorie the first cariedA [...] ▪ S [...]: lib de [...] [...] [...] Eccle Baron in Annal. in solemne procession in Rome, whereby the great infection of the plague ceased, where with the ayre was corrupted, in the yeare of our lord 509. And all the people of Rome are of opinion that it is the same Image which is now kept in the Church of S. Maria Maior. Such also was [...]aspar var [...]e [...]ius in cho [...]ogr [...] Hisp. that, which (as they say) the sayd S. Gregorie sent to S. Leander Bishop of S [...]l in [Page] Spaine, the which the Spaniardes honor and now call by the name of Nu [...]st [...] Sen̄ora de Guadalupe.

The Image that sometime was honored in the Citie of Constantinople, (and in regard of the deuotion vsed therunto, the Mother of God now and then deliuered her seruants from the handes of the Sarasins) is held by some to be that which the Empresse [...]loxia sent to Pul [...]er [...] frō Iherusalem to Constantinople, the which authorsSigo [...]ius in Hist. Ital. of good credit write, was afterwards translated to Ven [...]e where at this present it remaineth. Alphonsus de Vilegas in his book intituled [...]los Sanitorum testifiethAntonie Ben [...] in [...] [...]ico [...] Francis. A [...]as lib de i [...]. virg cap 20. by the authoritie of very many lerned men, that at this present there is in the Citie of Saragosa in Spaine a Chappell built and an Image of our lady there placed by the handes of S. Iames the Apostle, and honored with many miracles, which the Spainardes call Nuesira Sen̄ra del p [...]lar. Nauarrus reherseth by the testimony of Osortus that in the Citie of Calicut in the Indies there is yet to be seene an Image of our Lady with her Chyld in her armes, the which they hold was there left by one of the three kinges, or by some principall [Page] person of their trayne, who was at the adoring of our Lord in Bethleem.

They who haue left vs written the historie & particularities of that puissant kingdome of China lying in the vttermostIoan Cō [...] de M [...] [...]. boundes of the east, assure vs that they found in the Citie of Ch [...]nce [...] a meruelous sumptuous temple, where the Inhabitants of the Countrey being Pagans, had placed in a Chappell a hundreth and eleuen Idols, and besides them three very rich statues▪ wherof the one had one bodie and three faces, beholding each the other very attentiuely, the other was of a woman bearing a Chyld in her armes: the third of a man apparailed in such sort as the Christiās paint the holie Apostles, so that it seemeth the Image of the virgin Marie was there knowne and had in honor.

The admirable and renowned historie of our Ladie of Laureto is famous [...]o [...]t. Tursel [...] [...]us hist. [...]di [...] Lauret. ouer al the world, wherin wee may see how our Lord hath made choise of foure diuers places wherunto he caused that holie house wherin the diuine incarnation was wrought, to be translated by the ministery of Angells, wherof the fourth [Page] place is that of Lauretto, where now it continueth in the Marca of Ancona▪ where it is very much frequented through the innumerable visitations of all sortes of Pilgrims, and for the multitude of miracles which are seene there to happen daylie. In the Chappelle of that place is an Image of our Ladie with her babe Iesus, deuoutlie carued out of Cedar wood. Also the pilgrimage to the churchF [...]eol M [...]ri [...]n p▪ g. 106 at Mont-Serato in the kingdome of Cathalognia in Spaine is very renowned, where the Image of the Mother of god is greatlie honored, which was there miraculouslie foūd within a caue, about the yeare of our Lord. 890. where by the intercession of our blessed Ladie haue bene wrought many assured miracles amply set downe, in a historie cōpiled therofandAnno 1601. translated into french, and not long sithence dedicated to the french king now raigning.

THE SECOND CHAPTER.

AND to the end wee occupie not our selues in forraine matters only. These low Countreis haue in semblable [Page] manner (& that in many places) the memories of the glorious Vergin Marie honored with diuers miracles: And to begin with Henault: Tongre, a village hard by the Towne of Ath hath an Image of our Lady, the which in the yeare 1081. was three tymes placed there, and notwithstanding that it was diuers times caried to other places, yet was it stil mirac [...] louslie brought thither back againe.

In the Abbay of Cambron (which is of the Cistertian order) is kept a certaine Image of the Mother of God, painted vpō a wall, the which in the yeare 1 [...]32 being wounded with a bore-speare by a Iew, yeelded great aboundance of blood, the markes wherof are to be seene to this present day. Wee read the like to haue hapned euen in our dayes in the yeare 1595 in the Duchie of Sauoy nere to a towne called Mo [...]ntaruie, where there was an Image of our ladie, which hauing receaued certaine gashes with a swoord of a Caluinist, yeelded incontinentlie blood, wherwith many blynd, deaf, lame, and other diseased were cured.

In like māner our Lord hath wrought many meruelous thinges by the inuocation [Page] of his holie Mother in a litle towne of Henault called Chieure, since the yeare of our lord 1326. the which also continueth euen to our daies.

And in speciall sorte in the same prouince the said blessed virgin is much honored in the towne of Hall where is an Image of her, placed by S. Elizabeth daughter to the king of Hungarie, singuler deuotion being there vsed in regard of the miracles which are seē there to happē vnto those who either go thither in pilgrimage or els vow to go. Whereof the great lear ned I. Lipsius hath of late cōposed a book.

In the Countrey of Art [...]o [...]s and in the Citie of A [...]ras is a wax taper broughtIoan Molan. nat. S [...]. [...]elg 6. [...]ebr. thither miraculouslie by the Mother of God in the yeare of our lord 1105 in the tyme of Lambert Bishop of Arras. And this was donne to heale a disease called the fyri-burning. This Candle is kept with great care in the foresaid Citie and is vsed verie souerainlie for the curing of many maladies: neuer consuming althoughIoannes Mo [...] us in pt [...]: spirit. it be often tymes lighted; and that they haue made many little candels of the drops of the wax that haue been powred from the same: not vnlike vnto that [Page] candle of Iohn the Heremit dwelling in S [...] chus neere to Hierusalē, the which he had in his caue burning before an image of our lady, and which he was wont to recomend to the Mother of God, to the end she would stil keep it burning for her honour, so often as at any tyme he went to any place thence in pilgrimage. And although he was sometymes from home. for the space of two, three, yea of six moneths together, yet he alwayes found it at his return whole and cleerely burning as before he left it. Lykwise many great workes and liberal gifts of God are seen to proceed from him, in the duchie of Braba [...]t, by the intercession of the glorious virgin his mother.

At Laken nere to the citie of Bruxels a faire Church hath bene built, to the honor of our Lady, wherin (as it is well knowne to the world) many haue receiued help and remedie from the hand of God. So as the woorthines of this place confirmeth sufficientlie the ancient tradition, that the first model or paterne of the said Church was set downe by our Lady herself and honored with her visible presence.

[Page]In the Citie of Bruxell [...]s in a Chappel of our Ladie cal ed the Sablon an ImageAntiqu. M [...]S ex b [...]b [...] [...]b [...]aeh v [...]lli [...]. of her was there sette in the yeare of our Lord 1348. by a very deuout woman called B [...]iue S [...]etkens, the which Image is thought to haue bene pa [...]nted by miracle, and in this place many miracles were wrought vntil the yeare 1580.

In certa [...]ne old written book [...]s in the Collegial Church of S. Peters in Louaeine are conta [...]ned [...]undrie miracles which haue in times past hapned before an Image of our Lady which is yet there, and these haue continued since the yeare 1442. euen vnto out time.

In Viluord, in a Cloister called of cōfoit where the Rel g [...]euse women of the Carm [...]litan order dwel, is an Image of our ladie the which Dame Sophia wife to d [...]ke Henry the second of B [...]aba [...]t receaued from her mother S. Fliza et▪ Cou [...]tesse of He [...]sen, which she lefte there for the comfort of certaine o [...]d Matrons that then ly [...]ed in a congregation in that place, wherupon it hath still retained that name.

It is not needful to recount here the miracles which our Lord woorketh day [Page] lie by the inuocation of his blessed mother in the Church of our lady of Hanswick at Ma [...]klin, Alsembe [...]g and Sc [...]ute nere Bruxelles, at Lede by the towne of Alost, at Hasselare by A [...]denard in Flaundres, at the Chappel of our ladie in the market place of S. Omers in Arthois, at the Chappel of our ladie of grace nere to the Citie of Lile, And it is thought that there is no one prouince in these low Countreis, which hath not, or had not, some place dedicated to the Mother of God, wherin his diuine bountie hath not wrought or yet woorketh not sometimes miracles, wher of there are both particuler and publike testifications in great number.

THE THIRD CHAPTER.

BVT amongst all, that is very wounderful which wee see and heare to happen daylie at the place of Mountaigue nere to the towne of Sichē, in the Duchie of Brabant, beeing of such importance & admiratiō that through the fame therof within the space of six or seauē mōthes many thousandes of Pilgrims from all partes haue resorted thither. And to the [Page] end that in a matter so latelie knowne & in such abundance of miracles amongst the bruite of so-many incertainties, the truth may perfitly be seene, wee haue resolued to make here a particuler and faithful rehersall of such thinges as hitherto haue come to our knowlege, aswel concerning the p [...]ace & the Image as of the miracles. Which haue hapned, according to the informations gathered by the authoritie of the right Reuerend lord the Archbishop of Mecklin, howbeit through the diuersities of times and distance of places wherin the persons dwel vnto whome God hath imparted his fauours, it hath bene impossible to come to the perfit knowlege of ech thing that hath befa [...]ne them, which notwithstanding wee hope may be discouered in time, & come to light, whereof as yet we haue no knowlege, partly through the negligence or simplicitie of such as haue experimented them in them selues, & partly for that many are (perhaps) ashamed to publish their secret accidentes & maladies, although they haue bene miraculously cured therof.

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THE FOVRTH CHAPTER.

BVT before wee proceed any furthes it wil not be impertinent (considering in this affaire the great prouidēce and goodnes of God) to examine a litle the particuler circumstances of the place, of the Image, & of other thinges appertaning to this matter. It is a thing much to be noted, that seeing in many rich and mightie Cities & other places of strength in these low Countreis, there are many statelie Churches dedicated to the glorious Virgin Marie, and that she hath in so many places her Images in gold & siluer, and painted or carued with great art and woorkmanship, yet notwithstanding our Lord God (who is the greatnes of the humble) & our blessed Lady the mother o [...] humilitie, would make choise of this rude and desert hillock, in the territorie of S [...]c [...]en, a very poor towne, amongst a company of poor and ruyned people, at a small Image made of a sillie peece of wood of the height of a foot and a half or litle more, pa [...]nted & set foorth verie fim ply, placed in an old Oake, & that vpon [Page] the frontiers of those that are enemyes & rebelles to our Princes.

The which thing [...] seem to mee ful of many masteries, And [...]ist that what soeuer concerneth the place and Image, s very base and a [...]i [...]ct. What other thing doth it signifie, then that which the Prophet Dauid saith, That the [...]g [...] lord respecteth the things that are humble? And that which the Apostle saith, Our lord hath chosen the abiect t [...]ings of this world? And that our Lord Iesus Christ did meane that this place which he had appointed for his owne & his mothers honour should be like to the places of their habitation in this world, where he made choise of two very low places, to wit, the one, that of Nazareth for his incarnation and aboad, and the other that of Bet lem with the poor cribbe, for his natiuine. How poor and miserable that quarter of Sec [...]en hath bene, with how many mishaps and calamities it was wholy ruined and brought to desolation, will not be impertinent to declare, for the comfort of those poor afflicted people the inhabitants therof.

The towne of Sic [...]en before these troubles had a faire parish Church dedicated [Page] to S. Eustace, wel furnished with diuerse altars, ornaments and goodly belles. Moreouer it had a Cloister of Religiouse women of the order of S. A [...]stin, with their Church and fa [...]re buildings accordingly. And now this towne is so ruined, that at this present there is not so much as one bell, The Church & steeple are for the most part vnco [...]ered, There are few altars, and verie small store of ornaments that haue bene saued out of the fire, The Cloister is all burnt downe, sauing one Chappell, & one litle hows which before was built for the sick. Moreouer the said towne had about twelue or thirteene hundreth Burgeses, many of them were welthy and all of competent meanes and abilitie, where at this present it is hard to fynd 300. soules therin, or in the places which are dependant of the same, and all those are so needie and low brought that there is not one of them of that abilitie as to entertaine his friend with a decent lodging.

This towne here-to-fore had many faire houses built with brick and now they are all made with mudde, & thatched with straw in forme of a village, [Page] which is no wounder yf you consider what the towne hath sustained during these troubles and ciuil garboiles.

After the defait of Ge [...]blours which hapned in the yeare 1578. and the 28. of February the Towne and castle being well manned with a strong garrison was besieged by the souldiers of the Catholike king, and after battrie beeing entred by force, the souldiers of the garrison, were either put to the swoord, or drowned, or hanged, many of the Burgeses slaine, & the towne giuen ouer to fire and pillage. Not many yeares after, it was taken againe, sometymes by the rebells, sometymes by the kinges people. It was six times spoiled, and once consumed euen to ashes. Besides all this it was grieuouslie afflicted with the plague & wholie deuowred and eaten vp with the great garrisons which lay therin continually. And not onlie the Citie, but the Countrey round about was brought to such desolation by the ranging vp and downe of souldiers theeues and murderers, that the Countrey, (for some myles) is so pestred with woods, hedges, and bushes, that it is not onlie not habitable, but also [Page] trauailers cā scarcelie fynd any way or passage thereunto, in such sort as I am perswaded that there is no one place in all these low Count eis which hath endured so many miseries calamities and aduersi [...]ies as this place hath. And notwithstanding that the people are simple and still hold the fashion of the [...] Brabanders, yet haue they alwaies continued in the obseruances of the Catholike faith, so as euen during the sway of here [...]ik [...], here was not so much as one found amongst them that changed his faith, whereby may be seene the great mercy and loue of God towardes these miserable & afflicted people, the which being brought vnder so many calamities he vouchsafeth to comfort now againe by demonstration of his wounderful woorks amongst them.

THE FIFT CHAPTER.

WHat should be the cause why our Lord vouchsafeth to woork miracles in such a parte of the Countrey of Braban [...], we may imagine (vpon apparent reasons) that he doeth it for two [Page] causes, vpon apparent reasons I say wee may imagin (for who is he that knoweth the mynd of our Lord, or who is he that hath bene his coun [...]al [...]?) first it hath b [...]ne the custome of his diuine prouidence when he chastiseth any people for their correctiō and not for their destruction and vtter ruine, to [...]end them at tymes some comfort by miraculous woorkes of his power and mercy. The people of Israel was afflicted by the seruitude of Egypt, by the stinging of serpents, by the inuasion of the Madianits, and by other like adue [...]sities, but to the end they might think that God had not altogether forsaken them, he comforted them by transporting them ouer the redde sea, he cured them by the beholding of the brasen serpēt, by staying of the Sunne vn [...]er Iosue, by couering the fleece with dew lying on a dry place in the tyme of Ge [...]eon, and by many other miracles. The Countrey of Italie was afflicted by a cruel warre betwixt the Gu [...]lphes and the Gibbelines, but our Lord vouchsafing to shew that he would send them a speedie deliuerāce translated thither miraculouslie the hows of our Ladie of Lau [...]etto.

[Page]Euen so wee verilie hope that by these fauours and miracles, the diuine bountie of God hath giuen vs to vnderstand that he being moued with pitie & compassion vpon these poor low Countreis, wil take away very soon the scourge of his ire and indignation, to the end that wee should not think our selues wholly by him abandoned through the throng of so many oppressions and miseries, and therefore he sendeth vs now these tokens and presages of some deliuerance neer at hand.

The other reason may be that those holy Saints which haue dwelt and bene borne in this Countrey, and specially in Brabant haue by their merits and prayers obtained this grace of God that this place which they whiles they liued had in their possession as their inheritance and patrimony wherin they were wont to serue his diuine maiestie, or vnto which they vsed to resort, being deliuered from the furie of heretikes should be one day honored with so great miracles.

For this territory was once the patrimony of the first Saints of Brabant. It isMolan. Nat. SS. [...]lg. wel knowne that S. Bauo had in his possession [Page] the greatest part of the Hasbaine of Brabant. It is also certaine that S. Pipin Ian. 4. Feb. 21. Mar. 17. Iul▪ 10. & 16. Octo. 1. & 2 [...]. Nouēb. 23. first duke of Bra [...]ant had his aboad in the towne of Landen wherupon it beareth the surname: in the same place and with him liued his wife Iduberga, from whence proceeded that holy ofspring Gertrude and Begga, and of this Begga the great Charlemaine with his issue is descended. In this said quarter also dwelled being of the blood of the foresaid Pipin S. Amil [...]erga Decēb. [...]7. mother of the holie virgins Raynildis, Pharaild [...]s, and Gudula, and long before all these, S. Ermelinde a virgin right famous for her sanctitie. Likewise S. [...]rudo in his daies possessed many places in the Has [...]aine and in the Campignie, where he had preached the holie ghospell, His mother Ad [...]la renowned for miracles resteth in a place called zel [...]m neer to the towne of Diest, which place heretofore apperteined to her, and is but two miles distantMolan. lib de sac. milit Duc. Braban. from Montaigue. Add herunto that our Lord hath remēbrāce of the zeal & magnanimītie of the old dukes of Brabant, who a thousand yeares agoe did so valiantlie maintaine and aduance the Christian Catholike faith against the infidels [Page] Pagans, and heretikes. And that it seemeth that the Countrey of B [...]abant shalere long be who [...]e restored and setled againe in the Catholike faith, and in that glorious state wherin once it florished.

THE SIXT CHAPTER.

THat these things are donne vpon a Mountaine is not without reaōs, in regard that man being borne into this world to retire his mynd frō earth [...]e to heauenlie things, our Lord, both in the old and new testament was allwayes woont to doe his most speciall and principall woorkes vpon Mountaines. Vpon the Mount Moria Isaac was saued, and Abraham receaued the benediction. Vpō the mount Sinay the law was deliuered vnto Moyses. Vpon the mount Horeb Helias saw God almighty somuch as a mortall man was euer able to see him, vpon a Mountaine our Lord was wont to preach, vpō the Moūt Thab [...]r he was trásfigured, vpon the Mount Oliues he prayed and vpon the mount Calua [...] he was crucified, and accomplished our saluation. [Page] Moreouer the most famous places of the world where the holie Mother of God is honored, are wyld Mountaines and fu of wood, very much resembling this our Mountaine. They which haue written the hutorie of La [...]e to, affirme that the little hovvs wherin the incarnation of our Lord was first wrought and which was had in honour in the towne of Nazareth, vntil the yeare of our Lord 1291. (because Siria was conquered by the Sarracen [...]) was taken from that place and transported into Europe into the Countrey of Dalma [...]ia, and there sette vpon a litle Mountaine or hil nere to the [...]owne of T [...]rsactum. And forsomuch as [...]n that place they did it not that honour which was conuenient, it came so to passe that 4. yeares and 7. monthes after, the said litle hovvs was by Angels transported into the marca of A [...]cona in Italy▪ and set vpon a Mountaine or hil in a wood hard by the Citie of Recana [...]o, and a li [...]le while after that, because the pilgrims were hindred to go freely thither (through the multitude of Theeues and Robbers which made the passage dangerous) it was miraculous [...]e set vpon an other hil belonging [Page] to two breethern, who being fallen at variance for the offrings which were there made and our Lord being offended with their controuersies and couetousnes, made the sayd litle house to be placed vpon an other litle Mountaigne not farre from thence in the yeare of our Lord 1294. where our good God woorketh (euen to this present day) continually many miracles and graces, to the comfort & strengthning of all good Christians. What place is there in Spaine more honorable and more renowned for miracles, then that Mountaine in the kingdome of Cath [...]lonia not farre from Barcelona called Mount-serrato? because it seemeth to haue bene cut with a saw, and fitted for the seruice of the blessed virgin Marie, The which Moūtaine (according to that which many credible persons haue written) was in time past in accessible through the wyndinges and troublesome passages which it hath had: and not habitable for the rockes & craggie stones which it contained, but at this present, it is seemlie set foorth with 13. hermitages & a goodly great Monastery of S. Benedicts order, with many faire [Page] buildings, and a merueilous multitude of Pilgrims. In which place since the yeare 801. vntil the yeare. 1599. there hath bene wrought 381. miracles, wherof a great part are approoued and confirmed by publique and authentical testifications.

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.

NEither seemeth it to want reason that our Lord would haue his Mother to be honored by her Image placed in an Oke, for the holie scriptures informe vs that our Lord God hath wrought many miracles vnder diuers Okes. For vnder the Oke of Mambre according to the Hebrew text he cōcluded his league with Abraham, and there promised him a sonne by his wife Sara. In the same place the Angels appeared in forme of mē, diuers tymes renewing in the name of God the foresaid promise, and foretelling the destruction of the inhabitants of Sodome. vnder an Oke nere vnto Sic [...]ē Iacob buried the Idols. Vnder the same Oke Ios [...]e renewed the aliance betwene God & the people of Israel, as before we haue declared. Vnder the Oke in Ephra the angel ap [...]ud 16. [Page] peared to Ged [...]on whome he appointed Captaine and leader of the people of Israel, promising to free thē out of the seruitude, of the Madianits. Yea our Lord Iesus Christ wrought our saluation vpon the wood, of the crosse which (as Doctors affirme) was framed of Oke. The Pagans were wont to call the Oke, great and holy, and dedicated it vnto [...]upiter their chief God, because in the beginning of the world men made their food of acotnes, which is the fruit therof and the Romaines had a custome to giue him a crowne of Oken leaues that in warre had saued the lyfe of a Citizen of R [...]me. Of Okes the Poet writeth, prophesying of the golden world out of the verses of the Si [...]illes saying.

The t [...]e wil come of peace and plentie so,

That from the Oke the honi [...] sweet shal flow.

When therefore wee cōsider the foresaid examples of the old testament why should we not hope that nere vnto this oke by Sic [...]en through the prayers of holie and deuowt people. God may be inclined to make a nevv alliance and reconciliatiō betvv [...]xt himself and these lovv countreis, that he vvil send the Angel of vvisdome [Page] amongst vs, bring the Idols of heresie and impietie to nothing, raise vs vp some valerous Gedeons, graunt vs victory ouer these Madianites, send comfort to the loyal subiects, strengthen both our soules and bodies, & powre downe vpō vs the dew of his heauenly graces.

THE EIGHT CHAPTER.

THat our Lord hath chosē this place so nere vnto our enemyes which is scarse six or seauen hundreth paces distant from the riuer of Demer, beyond which riuer all the Countrey is subiect to the contributions robberies and exactions of the enemies, so as vpon a clear day one may see six or seauen miles into the countrie held by the heretiks & rebelles, wee may therby thinck that the wisdome of God hath ordained it, that not only the Catholiks might haue occasion to exercise their p [...]ety, and seek for mercy at the handes of God but also that he might bring back againe those which are in error into the bosome of the Catholik Church, by the meanes of these miracles: for that so great miracles and [Page] such abundance should be wrought in a place so nere the heretiks noses, what other thing may wee iudge it, thē a plaine demonstration that the hon [...]or do [...]ne to images, inuocation of Saints, and pilgrimages made to holy places, are things very p [...]ous and right acceptable to the maiestie of God: notwithstanding whatsoeuer blasphemies and scoffings, of all the rablement of heretiks to the cōt [...]ary.

Blessed be therfore the father of mercy and God of comfort, which comforteth vs after this manner in all our tribulatiōs, who in the doleful estate of these Countreis, by the wonderful woorks of his mercy yeeldeth ioy and consolation to the godly, confirmeth those that either stagger or doubt in their faith, and confoundeth the malice of heretiks (God graunt it may be to their saluation) with a light of such vnspeakable brightnes. Blessed be also the Mother of mercy, which procureth such fauours for vs poor wretches. God graunt that her goodnes will so dispose of vs, that as at the arriuall of her hows from Nazareth to Ital [...] ▪ that Countrey (which wa [...] thē oppressed with a long and cruel warre) [Page] gained peace and concord by her prayers to our Lord, so likwise by this new deuotion o [...] Catholiks at Mountague, the blessed virgin and mother of God being moued to compassion, by the prayers teares and deuout sighes of good people, may obtein at the handes of God, for these low Countries scourged with so long a ciuil warre, and welnigh brought to vtter ruine, that the Idols of our synnes may be buried vnder this Oake: that the heretyks may be reduced to the vnion of the holy Catholyke, Apostolyke, & Romaine Church, & our rebelles to their due obedience of their natural princes, that wee may all of vs with one mouth, and in the same Catholike faith, vnder one Prince in earth praise and honor our God, three persons in Trinitie and one in vnitie, & the blessed virgin Mary mother of our Lord Iesus Christ.

THE NINTH CHAPTER.

B [...]t to come to our history. In Brabāt there is a place ful of hil [...]e [...] & woods and altogether vnhabited called in the Duitch tongue Scherp [...]n- [...]e [...]l, in French [Page] Mountaigne. in English The sharpe or rough hil, in regard of the roughnes and barennes of the place, situated by the towne of S [...]chen, and litle more then a quarter of a dutche mile distant from thence, and a good mile from Diest. Vpon this place (beeing a hil somewhat higher then the rest of the ground lying nere therunto) grew an old Oke, which was somewhat great, wherunto a certaine Image of our lady was fastened, and there is a certaine report and old tradition amongst those people which liue in that quarter, that a hundreth yeares and more sithēce, there was a certaine Shepherd who feeding his flock along that Mountaigne fownd the fore said Image of our Lady lying on the grownd, the which he determined to cary home with him, but the Image miraculously became so heauy that he was neither able to cary it, nor to lift it, yea himself became so immoueable that he had no power to stirre out of the place, in such sorte as he could not driue his f [...]ok homeward. The farmer his Maister much woundring at his Shepherds vnaccustomed lingring, went himself to seek him, And hauing vnderstood the cause [Page] of his stay, perceaued forthwith that the Image which the Shepherd mēt to haue caried home, was the [...]ame Image which men vsed to honor at the Oke of Mountaigue. Wherefore he took it and without any empeschment or resistance placed it againe in the Oke. And the Shepherd as though he had bene vnloosed and vn [...]ettered went his way home with his she [...]p without any further difficultie. By the report of this miracle, the people that neighboured thereabout being excited to deuotion, began to yeeld reuerence to the place and Image, & repaired thether very often to craue help of the blessed virgin, especialy against agues. The which things the most ancient inhabitants of the place haue auowched vnder their solemne othes, that they haue hard their parents and ance [...]ors report: to witte, Arnould of Ecynde beeing fourescore yeares of age, Iohn S [...]innen beeing of 70. Iohn M [...]mbors of 60. and Allard of B [...]gard also of 60. yeares of age, all beeing inhabitants and Escheuins of Sichen. But forasmuch as wee haue this only by traditiō of certaine old people without any further authentical proof (although wel [Page] deseruing credit heerin) wee meane not so to affirme their reports as altogether assured therof. But wil proceed to such other things, wherof wee can aleage so authentical and assured proofs, as none can iustly doubt therof.

THE TENTH CHAPTER.

IT is certaine and wel knowne that the foresaid Image remayned in the Oke vntil the yeare 1580, but shortlie after and till the yeare 1587. was no Image at all in that place, as wee fynd by [...]osse v [...] Artric vvho yet liueth hath affirmed vnder his o [...]he that he vvas healed of a lōg [...]uartain agu in the yeare [...]583. information of sundry persons who in that tyme (to be cured of their agues) although with euidēt danger visited that place, many being restored to health notwithstanding (as is aforesaid) no Image was then there, wherby it may appeare that not only the Image, but also the very place is dedicated to the seruice of God, and to the honor of his blessed Mother. How this first Image was lost wee yet know no certainty, but it is coniectured that it was destroyed by heretikes who from the yeare 1578 vntil the yeare 1586. ranged daylie in those partes pilling [Page] and spoyling the Countrey.

Afterwards in the yeare 1587. a good old man beeing a Burgesse & Escheum of S [...]chen (of humilitie not willing to be named) considering the great concour [...]e and deuotion which people had to this place, and knowing that the first Image was lost, went vnto a deuout and godly widow dwelling in Diest, called Agnes Fredericks hauing the custody of the Church of All [...]all wes in the suburbes of the said towne of Diest who had in her hows an Image of our lady made of wood, placed in a litle frame or tabernacle, which vpō ernest entreaty she giuing vnto him, he caried to Mountague, and caused it to be sette vp in the foresaid Oke, in the place of the other which was lost; where it continued vntill lent in the yeare 1602. at which tyme Sir Godsrey of Thie [...]r [...]ncle Pastor of the Church of S. Eustace in Su [...]ē, took the said Image out of the Oke, and set it in a litle Chappel made of wood of six foot long and fyue broad, hard by the sa [...]d Oke. And the same he did in regard of the great deuotion which he saw the people had that came thether to be cured of a vehement head-ache then [Page] raigning in those parts wherof very many found amendment. In which litle Chappel the said Image remayned vntil such tyme as it was placed in the new Chappel which now is built of stone.

THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER.

LEt vs now therefore speak of the miraculous and liberal cures which our lord hath vouchsafed to woork vpon those that haue honoured his blessed mother in this place.

From tyme out of mynd the people & inhabitants of Sichen & places therabout, were wont to fynd singuler help by our Lady at Mountague so often as they found themselues attainted of any agues.

Of which thing Sir Godsrey of Thienwincle Curat of S. Eustace in Sichen, doth sufficiently testify: who remēbreth that (fifty yeares past) he being then about six yeares old, was caried by his parents to Moūtague, where he was cured of an ague which he had at that time,

Also at such tyme as the Spanish souldiers were in mutiny in the towne of Diest and that theyr Captains remayned [Page] in the towne of Sichen attending whyles the sayd souldiors were payd, there was a certaine Spanish Captaine lodged in a Burgeise hows who was sick of an ague for the space of a whole yeare, and by reason of his sicknes was so wayward & troublesome as none could cōtent him. It came to passe that the good wife of the hows told him that if he desired to be freed of his ague, it were good he should visit our lady at Mountague, seeing so many were there cu [...]ed: wherupon moued partly by her and partly by persu [...]sion of his owne seruants, he went thither, & accomplishing there his deuotion, was there cured, and wholy deliuered of his ague, behauing himself afterwards so modestly and peaceably as he seemed to haue altered his nature.

Moreouer as the whole towne of Sichen can testifie, there is scarce therein one houshold wherof some one or other hath not receaued help at Mountague. The Curate and escheuins of Sichen affirme assuredly that in the yere 1598 at what time the Irish of the regimēt of Sir VViliam Stanley Coronel, were lodged there, many of thē were wont to vse no other [Page] phisik or remedy for their diseases, but to make their prayers at the foresaid place of Mountague, amongst whome very many were healed, in such forte that Father VValter Talbo [...] an Irish priest, one of the societie of Iesus (who at that tyme was their preachet and ghostlie father) was wont oftentimes to say with great admiratiō that this place was in very singuler manner chosen by God to aduance there his Mothers honour, for which cause he was moued to go thither sometymesdenoutly in procession, accōpained with the said Irish and the townesmen of Sichen. Wherof he wrote to Father Thomas Salius, who was the Superior of the fathers of the societie, which attended vpō the Catholik kings army in the low Countries. Many also affirme that the like cures haue hapned to diuers souldiers of other nations, which came thether in pilgrimage both of the garrison of Diest and Sichen. And some are of opiniō, that the bruite and fame of Moūtague was principally diuulged by the same souldiers, in other Cities and places vnto which they repaired.

[Page]

THE TVVELFTH CHAPTER.

THe which bruite by Gods disposition, in short tyme grew to be so great, that it moued an [...]t number of people which haue flocked thither vpon deuotion from all partes, wherof many haue bene holpen and conforted, as may appeare by so many crutches, staues, bands and other things (which the sick persons vsed in their maladies) left and hanged about the Chappel. For in the beginning of the month of October in the yeare 1603. there were reckned vp, to the number of 135. Crutches and legges of wood, of such as were lame, and they were brought thether within the space of 4. or 5. monthes, without n [...]mbring the bands and trusles of such as were broken, and the shooes which vvere vnderlayd belonging to such as limped, vvherof the number vvould haue bene at this present double, if (through the negligence of those vvho serued the place) they had not bene caryed avvay by other pilgrims & passengers. All vvhich things vvere vndoubtedly left there by them [Page] who receaued either cure or notable eas [...] of their maladies. And to the end we may speak a woord touching the number of pilgrims, it is knowne by the relation of diuers credible persons, how that vpō the eight of Septēber in the foresaid yeare 1603. being the feast of the Nat [...]t [...]ie of our Lady, there were about twentie thowsand pilgrims, and vpon other dayes there haue come thether many thowsands, & daylie yet cometh thether a great nūber from all Countreys and quarters, & they not only of the common forte, but also diuers Princes, Earles, Lordes, Gentlemen and Ladies, the rehersall of whose names would here be too tedious.

THE XIII. CHAPTER.

THe same is also confirmed by the offrings, in Siluer, Coyne, Candles, Images of siluer, and of other matter representing the limmes and persons of those who there haue either found cure or ease. The precious beades and other guifts in siluer, and very rich vestures for the Image of our lady, wherof the nūber is very great. And it will not be from the [Page] purpose to specifie and name some of thē: First the Magistrates of the Citie of Bruxelles (wherin at that time the plague was very hotte) sent in the month of Septēber 1603. to the honour of our lady of Mountague a faire crowne of siluer guilt, with this inscription in latin: Reginae Calorum SS. Dei Matri B. Virgini Mariae, Bruxella morb [...] afflicta supplex [...]btu [...]t. Anno 1603. Which is as much to say. The Citie of Bruxelles being afflicted with the pestilent disease, in hūble māner [...]ffreth this Crowne to the Queen of heauen, to the most holy Mother of God, the blessed virgin Mariae: in the yeare 1603. And very many of good credit did note, that after that tyme the contagious disease that had raig ned all that summer began to decrease & by litle and litle to be aswaged.

The Magistrates and people of A [...]t [...]erp (who haūe of old bene much obliged & affectioned to our ladie their patronesse) made a present vnto her at Mountague the eight of December 1603. being the feast of her conception, of two siluer candlesticks very cunningly wrought with these verses and inscription.

Suscipe Sancta Parēs ex v [...]t [...] Ant [...]erpi [...] manus: Quod dat, ne pe [...]tis crescat ac [...]rb [...] [...]ues.

[Page]I must not forget the most honorable & deuout Princesse Dame D [...]r [...]the of L [...] raine, widow to the Duke of Brunswick, who vpō the eight of October in the yeare aforesaid 1603. offred at the sayd place vnto our Lady, a faire ornament to hang before the Altar, recommending vnto our blessed Lady her [...]ourney, which she took out of these low Countreis into Loraine.

The noble lady Dame Elcon [...]r Henriq ez de G [...]zman, widow to the Earle of Vseda, Chief Chāberlaine of the most gracious Infant of Spayn, the lady Isabella Duchesse of Brabant, presented there a faire gilt cuppe.

Omitting to make mētion of a goodly foundation made to the Chappel of our Lady, by a principal person of the court, who desired his name should be concealed: and of many other guifts & offrings made there by diuers others, whose reward is like to be great before God.

THE FOVRTENTH CHAPTER.

OVr most gracious and deuout Princes Albertus and Isabella are not to be [Page] omitted: for first the Archduke Albertus returning frō raising the siege of Botsleduke, which was beleagred by the rebels of Holland, and going to Bruxelles came to Mountague, on the tenth of Nouember 1603, where he gaue thankes to our lord for his victorie, and there did honour to his holy Moother, and some few dayes after, he went thither another time from thesa [...]d Citie of Bruxelles, together with the Duchesse his wife, and all his Court, & very many lords and gentlemē: where beein [...] arriued vpon the twentith of the-said month of Nouember, the said Archduke & Duchesse, as right deuout Princes, with all the lords and ladies of their trayn, made their prayers vpon their knees for a long space, aswel for their owne as for their countreis welfare: and from thēce they went to lodge in the towne of Dust, which is distant a duitche mile & a half from that place. And after they had made their preparation by fasting and confession, to receaue the sacred communion, returned the next day (which was the feast of the presentation of our Lady) to4 english myle & a half. Mountague on foot, and all their trayn, an [...] there deuoutly hard three masses, at the [Page] first wherof the Princes only did communicate, at the second all the ladies [...] estate & gentlewomen of honour to theAn ex [...] ple of a deuo [...]t court. Princesse, and at the third all the rest of the Court. And to the end their prayers might be of more force the Princes added a good almes ther [...]to. The most gracious I [...]fanta Isabella three daies immediatly one after another, ateuentyde offred a most precious roabe, imbrodred with gold and siluer and most precious [...]ones, the which roabes for the most part were wrought with her own hands▪ And besids this, the most gracious Archduk Albertus caused a notable almes to be giuen ouer and besides that which he had offred at his returne from B [...]is [...]eduke. And vpon the fourth day the sayd Princes returned to Bruxelles, where they surceased not to haue care of the good ordering & adorning of the foresaid place of Mountag [...]. And amōgst other the Archduke of his owne inuentiō ordayned a very faire forme and māner to plant there certaine orders of trees in proportion, amongst which there should be built fourteene [...]le Chappelles or stations, to represent t [...]e ioyes and sorrowes of the holy mother [Page] of God: and this to be contriued in s [...]ch order and fashion that all the hil should seeme to appeare in forme of a [...]arre, which signifieth the name of the virgin Mary▪ And moreouer it is to be prouided of a hedge and ditch round about that it may be Hortus conclusus, a Garden roūd [...]: a name which the holy scripture affordeth to our Lady. And besids all this our sayd Princes haue made there an oblation of a meruelous sumptuous ornament, together with a Chesuble and Copes for the Deacon & Subdeacon to celebrate diuine seruice therein.

THE XV. CHAPTER.

BVt to come to the miracles: let vs begin with the entrance of the yeare 1603. and some moneths before; after which tyme especially about Easter the principal of them hapned. And we wil set them down according to euery moneth, so far foorth as they came to our knowlege, adding vnto thē those which afterwards insued, as also those wherof we haue gotten information [...] the first publishing of this historie: p [...] cing [Page] euery one in their due order, according to the tymes in which they came to pas: to the end that our Lord (who vouchsafed to worke these things by the intercessiō of his Mother) might receiue the honor and glory which vnto him is due, and that all Christians as wel those which are misguided and in error, as others might consider and touche with their fingers, where the light of truth hath her abode, and where is the true sheep▪ fold, wherein they may expect and hope to obtaine their euerlasting saluation.

Of a blynd wooman which was cured.

PEtronel Riders wyfe to Lambert BauduinAbout the month of May or Iune 160 [...]. sometyme soldier, and launcier vnder the Lord of Grobbendonck in the Country of Brabant, in the yeare 1602. being at Dust had a great defluction of humors, which fel vpon her eyes, and a great and vehement grief insued thereupō as if her eyes had ben gnawne with some vermin: which increaced so much that she vtterly lost her sight: notwithstanding [Page] that many medicines were applyed vnto her both by the aduise of surgeons, as others, of which she receiued no help at all: in such sorte that she could not see or decerne any thing in the world which continued more then eight or ten dayes. At which tyme a certaine womā seeing her in this plight, aduised her to goe vnto our Ladie at Montaigu where many had ben cured of their agues, hoping that there she should fynd some help for her disease. Moreouer she counselled her to wash her eyes with the water which is behynd the Chappel of the foresayd Montaigu. Whereupon the sayd Petronel resolued to goe thither in pilgrimage, and hauing sought out a woman in Diest to leade her, shee walked (starck blynd) towards the said Montaigu about the Moneth of May or, Iune, in the sayd yeare 1602: but assoone as shee began to goe vp the hil towards the chappel, she felt the accustomed griefs of her eyes to be much asswaged, & with all her self to be much inwardly comforted. Which alteration after shee had perceiued, shee would needes trye whether shee had recouered any thing of [Page] her sight or no, so that with her fingers lifting vp her eyelids, shee perceiued that shee began to see (as it were through an obscure mist) the grasse and bushes of the Mountayne, and a little afterwards setting somewhat forwards, shee perfectly sawe the little chappel of wood where the Image of our Ladie was placed, and hereupon▪ shee spake to the woman which led her, and thancking her for her paynes told her that shee needed her help no longer, for that shee had nowe recouered her sight: and so the sayd Petronel went alone without any other ayd towards the foresayd water, where hauing washt her eyes, shee fel to her deuotions in the Chappel of our Ladye, rendring thancks to God and her, for this worck of mercie: and so returning whole and merrie to her hows at Diest hath euer since inioyed perfectly her sight, and hath been free from al her former paynes, and yet so remayneth to this present day, as it appeared vpon the six and twentith of Iune in the yeare 1604. when in the citye of Bruxelles before the Magistrates there by solemn othe shee affirmed all that hath been sayd, conformable [Page] to an act framed thereof subsigned P. Numan Secretaire, & sealed with the s [...]ale of the sayd Citie.

How blood was found, vpon the lips of the Image of our Ladie.

VPon the third of Ianuary in the yeare 1603. diuers Magistrates andThe third of Ianuary 1603. other persons were met together at Sichen from the next villages about some affaires appertayning to that quarter. Amongst others Mathew O [...]de [...]gge Escheuin of Bekeu [...]rt, VValter V [...]kelen Escheuin of VVanr [...]de, Henry Reymakers Escheuin of VVersbeke, Bartholmew Schellens, & Laurens of Ca [...]ten were there preset. Who after they had ended all their busines at Sichen, returning homeward, and passing by Montaigu, they did their deuotions in the Chappel of our Ladie; and whilst they were in prayer, the sayd VValter Vnkelen espyed a drop of blood vpon the lip of the image of our Ladie, whereupon drawing neere to the image, he wyped of the drop with his finger, & he found that it was perfect blood, and incontinently an other like drop returned, the [Page] which was wyped away by Mathew O [...] de [...]ogge: and as an other the third tyme appeared, it was wyped of by Henry Reymakers: and the foresayd VValter Vnk [...]len seeing the fourth drop of blood to appeare vpō the lip, tooke a cloth or handkerchief, and dryed it, and found a marck of very blood in the same, euen such as might issue out of the body of a liuing man: whereupon they were meruelously astonished: and the next morning this VValter looking vpon his hand-kerchief, found the sayd drop to haue spred itself as large as an English groate, and some what bleaker of colour then it was the day before. These aforenamed persons whyle yet they were in the Chappell, looked diligently on euery syde, to see whether the Image might receiue any moisture through the roofe, but they found no signe at all of any such thing: for it was a very faire and cleere Sunne-shyny day, and there was neuer any paynting or colour layd on the picture so farr as any mā could remember. And all this which hath ben sayd, was auerred by the foresayd persons, vnder their solēn othes before the Magistrates [Page] of the town of S [...]hen, in the presence of many witnesses, as appeareth by a wryting made hereof, and subsigned L. van Ogernen, and sealed with the seale of the sayd town: and it is very certaine, that in the first three monethes of this accident, to witt, in the holy weeke before Easter, the sayd picture by reason of the oldnes thereof, by the appointmēt of the Curate and Church-wardēs was newly painted.

How a lame mayde was healed.

MArie Lenkens daughter of Francis In April. [...]. [...]3. Lenkens & Cat [...]arin Vermo [...]en beeing ten yeares of age, had an accident that hapned her in her right leg, in the yeare 1599, in such sorte that the sayd leg was shrunck vp and became three fingers shorter then the other, and withal smaller and slenderer, in which sorte shee cō tinued for three yeares space together, although with great anguish and payne, and the third yeare she was not able to goe therewith in any sorte, whereupon her mother resolued toe go with her in [Page] pilgrimage to our ladie of Montaigu: the which she did vpon the feast of the Annunciation of the virgin Marie, in the sayd yeare 1603, putting her daughter on horsback, and being come to the riuer of Demere, neere to a place called Tystelt, where by hors they were notable to passe they sent the sayd hors back again, & they both walked together on foot towards Montaigu, the poore lame mayden halting downright, and often falling to the ground, before they could arriue at the Chappel of our Ladie: Where being come exceedingly weerie, they did their deuotions: which being ended, the mayd recouered so much strength, that she returned home with her mother on foote, without any molestation payne or wearines neither at that present tyme, or euer after: and since that tyme her leg by little & little grew of aequall bignes & length with the other, in such sorte that she now walketh without any difficultie, wheresoeuer she pleaseth, as wel as any other. Al which hath ben affirmed by her mother vnder her solemn othe before the Magistrates of the town of Ar [...]t [...]t: and Marie vander N [...]is widowe of [Page] Christian vanden Vinne dwelling in Arschot, who accompanied them in their pilgrimage, together with Henry Godfrey Michtels, who was neighbour vnto the sayd mayd, did in lyk sorte vnder their othes auouch before the sayd Magistrates, that they had seen and known the foresayd mayde lame and impotent, and afterwards to haue ben miraculously cured, as hath ben sayd: all which appeareth by an act made thereof by the sayd Magistrates, bearing date the xxixth of March in the yeare 1604, subsigned P. Aelbrechts, and sealed with the seale of the town of Arschos.

How a man sick of the palsey was healed.

PEser of Honsberg Escheuin of Merhout In April, 1601. in the Campignie, being of the age of one and fiftie yeares, fel suddainely into a great disease, in the end of the Month of Ianuarie 1606, the which continuing for ten or twelue dayes space, thereupon ensued so great a palsey, that he was depriued of the vse of his armes and legs, & of all his other mēbers, his head eyes and tongue onely excepted, which he [Page] was able to moue. And besydes this, he had a grief that was so vehement & continual, that he could neither sleepe or rest day or night: in such sorte that from Palmesunday till eight dayes after Easter he was fame to haue euery night at least two, sometymes three or fower of his familie to watch with him, and to administer vnto him his necessities, sometymes to carie him to the fier, and presently back to his bed again. Who albeit he had vsed the counsel and receiptes of some Physitions for his recure, yet felt he no ease at all, but rather increase of his grief which made him wholy to giue them ouer. And whereas certain of the inhabitants of Merbou [...] had related vnto him that by the inuocation of Gods Mother many miracles were wrought at Mōtaig [...] neer to Diest, he entring into a feruent & zelous resolution, to take her for his refuge, and to goe in pilgrimage to that place: & withall to Boxtele in the Campigni [...], where the miraculous blood of the holy Sacrament of the altar is reserued; in the mean whyle with many teares & grones calling vpon the glorious virgin Mary, and with great desire expecting [Page] the feast of the Annunciation of our Ladie, (which was very neere, & was that yeere translated til after the octaues of Easter, for that it fell in the holy week;) & so much the more because he had vnderstood that diuers of his neighbours were resolued that day to go in pilgrimage to Montaig [...], which day of the Annunciatiō when it came, he caused himself to be caryed in a waggon to the foresaid mountaine, cōtinually afflicted with the palsey & impotēcie of all his limmes: saue onely that some two or three dayes before his departure, and whylst his seruants made readie those things which were necessarie for his voyage, he began a little to moue his fingers. Beeing therefore the same day arriued at Montaigu, he found such a throng of people, that he could not in any wyse come neere vnto the Chappel. For which cause, to satisfie his deuotiō, they brought him the image of our ladie to the waggo where he lay, the which with much reuerence he kissed: and after the presse of the people was past, his wyfe withone of his seruants and two others caried him three tymes about the sayd Chappel: and no [Page] sooner was he put again into the waggon, but he felt in himself a great change and ease: in such sorte that he thought himself wholy cured: but trying to moue himself, he found that he was as yet impotent & without the vse of his limmes. Notwithstāding beeing returned home, he felt that his palsey by little & little from that day forward begā to decreace: & euery day after he foūd himself better, in so much that in short tyme he recouered so great force & health, that he could permit himself to be led through his hows: and a little whyle after he walked without any help of his crutches, which also with in few daies he layd asyde, walking onely with a staf in his hand, & not long after without either staf or any other help at all: in such sorte that this Ho [...]sberge being restored to perfect health and strength, & vse of his limmes, fayled not to render thancks to God, & his holy Mother: and vpon the eigth of the moneth of Septēber next following beeing the day of the Natiuitie of the glorious Virgin, he departed from his hows on horseback, to offer vnto our Lady one of his Crutches wherewith he was wont [Page] to support himself: and from the town of Sichen he went on foot to the Chappel of Mo [...]taig [...], where he did his deuotion, & gaue God thancks for the mercie which he receiued as hath been sayd. And since that tyme he hath continued wel disposed & healthie, as he is at this present And this that hath ben here sayd, is set down in the Register of the sayd Chap pel vpon the eigth day of Septembre 1603. And as by the sayd Honsberg it was againe declared (being sūmoned thereunto) vnder his solemn othe before the court and Magistrates of Merbo [...]t, vpon the seuenth of March in the yeare 1604. Vpon which day VVillebrord Bosmans, Adrian Verhelle [...] & Iohn S [...]i [...]nē Escheuines of the same place, declared and auouched, that they had diuers tymes seē & visited this Honsberg whyle he was sick, and that they found him altogether taken with the palsey and impotent & depriued of the vse of his limmes. Al which is conformable to that which the magistrate hath set down, dated as before, and subsigned Iohn Trudo [...]ius Secretarie: & sealed with their seale.

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A cure of one that was blynd and taken with the Apoplexie.

ANne Vereyken the wyfe of Hubert VVell [...]s dwelling in the village ofIn May 1603. Test [...]l [...], not farr from the town of Sichen was in the moneth of Februarie in the yeare 1603. taken with the Apoplexie, and there with also lost her sight in so much that her husband was forced to carry or lead her to euerie place, whether she would goe. And although many medicines were applied to cure her disease, yet she foūde no help or cure at all: wherfore shee took her refuge towards our Ladie, & made a promis to goe and visit her at Montaigu, the which when she had accōplished in the moneth of May next following, she recouered her sight and the intier health of al her bodie, and went vp and down wheresoeuer it pleased her, & alwayes afterward remained in good state as she is at this present. All this here related, was according to order of law declared both by her self and her husband before the Magistrates of Sichē, [Page] as wel vpon the eleuenth of May in the foresaid yeare 1603, [...]s also vpon the one and twentith of April 1604. According to a wryting framed hereof & signed L [...]van Ogernen Secretarie, & sealed with the town seale.

The punishement of one that scoffed at the Pilgrimage of Mountaigu.

A Certain townesman of Diest (whose name for certaine causes we do notIn May 1603. set downe) began to mock at such as went in Pilgrimage to Montaigu, and a little after was strickē in his body, in such sorte that he became lame, & altogether depriued of the vse of his limmes, & sustai ned such vehemēt tormētes that he was constrained to keep his bed: & although he had procured certaine medicines and remedies to be ministred vnto him, yet could he not be holpē. Wherefore at last resoluing with himself to goe and visit our Lady at Montaigu: & hauing obtained some strength after this his resolutiō, he walked thither by little & little on foot: and so soone as he had perfourmed his [Page] pilgrimage, he recouered & was wholy cured, as it appeareth by the information hereof taken in the town of Diest, by certaine commissioners that were sent thither by the Right Reuerend the Lord Archbishop of Maclin.

How a Chyld that was in a consumption and blynd was healed.

I Oane Ma [...]s the widdow of Lewis Castel [...] In May 160 [...]. dwelling in the town of Diest, had a chyld of one year old or thereabout: who was taken with a great maladie, which kept him in his bed more thē three whole moneths continually, wherby he was brought so low, that he had nothing left but skin and bones: he had moreouer a swelling in his throte, which by diuers surgeons was iudged to be some vaine that was broken, by others, that it was some euill matter or humour which was descended thither. And besydes these he had an accident in his eye, the which being shewed to the surgeons, they were of opinion that the eye was broken out, and that the peece of the sight was corrupted, [Page] as in very deed the chyld could see nothing therewith▪ and they were persuaded that he should neuer see with it so long as he liued: the which chyld was come to those termes, that his mother expected no other thing of him but that he should shortly dy. Nowithstanding putting her cōfidence in the mercie of God, and in the assistance of his most sacred Mother, she resolued to go with her Chyld, & to visit our Lady at Mōtaigu on three seueral Frydayes: and notwithstanding that the mother was also [...]k, yet she accomplished her Pilgrimage in the beginning of the sōmer, in the yeare 1603. And the first day that she was at the Chappel, she layd her chyld vpō the altar, so long as she made her prayer: which being ended, & returning homeward, the chyld fel sweetly a sleep in her armes, and so continued til she came to Diest: and in this so [...]te persisting in her deuotions the two next frydayes following, the chyld was made whole and sound, and by little and little recouered the perfect health both of his bodie and of his eie; with which he now [...]eth very cleerely, and remaineth in [Page] very good plight. All this those of the Court of Diest haue witnessed, after the hearing & examination of the a foresayd Ioane, conformable to a writing that was drawn thereof, bearing date the XXth of March 1604. subsigned I. vanden Goedenhu [...]se, and sealed with the seale of the sayd town,

One cured of the Iaunders and Squinancie.

THe Ladie Francis de i [...]ombeck, AbbesseIn May 1603. of the Cloister of Hoght neere to the citie of Maestright in the Dutchie of Brabāt in the beginning of May, 1603, was attain ted with the Iaunders, whereof she became so sick, that hauing had the aduise of a certain Phisitiō which dwelled at Lie ge he was in dispaire of her lyfe as he plain ly affirmed to Dame Catharin Cortilz, Religiouse of the sayd Conuent, yet he sent the sayd ladie Abbesse some herbes with a certain drink, but it profited her nothing and as her disease daylie increased, so that she had little hope by any way of Physick, she committed her self vnto God almightie, and to the help of [Page] the glorious Virgin Marie, promising by vow vnto God and her, a pi [...]grim [...]g [...] & an almesse vnto the chappel of our Ladie at Montaigu, and two or three dayes after she s [...]nt thither he [...] mayd O [...]ae T [...]r mā [...], the which was con vpon the xxv [...]i▪ rof May in the foresayd yeare 1603. who hauing ended her deuotion she brought her Ladie a piece of the Oke wherein the blessed Virgins Image was set: the which the sayd ladie Abbesse receiuing with all reuerence and deuotion, caused it to be applyed to euery thing that either she did eat or drinck: trusting in God, & hoping through the intercession of his holy mother that she should fynd remedie therby, and from that day she began oamēd and to recouer perfectly her health, without any humaine help: in somuch that a little whyle after she was made whole & sound. Afterwards the [...]e hapned vnto her a great sorenes and paine in her throate, which Physitiōs call the Squinancie, wherby she was brought again into manifest peril of death, as the surgeon openly declared whome they had sent for to help her. Her tongue and throte were so inflamed, that they seemed altogether [Page] black: and although, they opened a vaine in her tongue, three or fowr tymes together, yet it helped nothing, for not one drop of blood would come foorth, which when the-sayd Ladie Abbesse had perceiued, & vnderstanding the danger wherein she was, she vowed an other pilgrimage to our Ladie of Montaigu, & sent thither again the foresayd Oda, and VVindel Corenborst her seruāts, who hauing ended their deuotions vpon the xxvj. of Iune 1603. the-sayd Ladie Abbesse recouered afterwards, and within fewe dayes returned to her perfect health. As it wel appeareth by her attestatiō signed with her own hand, and sealed with her seale.

Of a lame and impotent man healed.

BE [...]rād de Loyarbre locksmith dwelling at H [...]y in the cuntrie of Liege, was, (some three yeares past) attached with aIn May 2603. vehement paine in his reynes, and about his hart, in such sorte that he could not follow his occupatiō except very seldom and that fayre & softly: the which paine [Page] continued very long, and at one tyme for the space of six whole monethes: wherby he was brought so low, that he was cōstrained to keep his bed, from October 1602, vntil Easter eue 1603. and then (although he was very sick) he endeuoured to ryse, but he found his left beg (by the long and continual paines thereof) to be much shrunck vp, & by a good foot to haue become shorter then the other, whereby he was forced to take two crutches, and with them he walked in great paine and feeblenes. So it came to passe, that on the day of S. Peter and S. Paul, beeing the xxix. of [...]e, in the foresaid yeare 1603. he hard some relate the miracles of our Ladie of Montaigu: wherby he was so moued, that he purposed with a great and feruent desyre to go thether on foot with his crutches, & alone with out the assistance of any other: which he did, walking on verie slowly, although not without great grief and labour of his body: in such sorte, that within fowr dayes and an half he came to the Chapel at Mōtaigu, which for all this was not past ten myles distant from H [...]y: hauing his hands and fingers much swolne, and the [Page] skinne worne of by the continual handling of his crutches, vvith had also much opened or strained his arme pittes. And beeing novv come before the Chappel, he made there deuoutly his prayers vnto God and his glorious Mother, which beeing ē [...]s [...]d, he raysed vp himself faire & softly without his crutches, and began to vvalk praying about the Chappel, although not vvithout great paine: but at the secōd tyme he felt a certain soudaine puffe of vvynd, to come down as it vvere from heauen vpon him, in somuch as he feared he should haue been throvvn dovvne to the earthe, by vvhich vvynd he felt a kynd of motion and svveet heat to enter in to his bodie, vvhereby he thought his interiour partes vvere vvarmed & vvholy altered: and so going the third tyme about, he foūd himself intierly cured; and that his left leg (vvhich before vvas a foot shorter then the right) vvas novv made longer and aeq̄ual vvith the other, and that he could vvel vse it: yea, he found it stonger then his leg that before vvas vvhole: vvhere vvith beeing much cōforted, hauing rēdred thāckes to God, & his holy Mother, who had prayed [Page] for him, he left there his crutches, and walked homeward to Huy on foot without them. And in August next following, and an other tyme after that, he came on foot to Montaign, in memorie & gratitude of the fauour he had there receiued: & thē he was much eased of the paine he felt about his hart, which he had very long indured. All this which here hath beē set down, this Bertrād declared at Mōtaigu, before M. Iames de Castro, doctor of diuinitie & Deane of the Christiantie of Diest, Sir Godfrey Thiē win [...]kle Curate of Sichen, Maister Ioachim de Buschere Secretarie of the Coūcil of Brabant, Peter de Hem Notarie, & many others who were then present: & after this againe it was all affirmed and verified vnder a solemne oth by the foresayd Bertrand (beeing summoned thereunto) before the sworne Bourgemaister▪ and Council of the said town of Huy, as it appeareth by their attestation made vnder their seale, and signed by the secretarie of the same town, dated the xvijth. of Ianuary 1604.

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Of one that had a withred hand, and how it was afterwards healed.

MArie Isertant the daughter of Andrew Isertant, dwelling at Esselbeke neerIn I [...]ne 160 [...]. to [...]ousso [...], ha [...]d by the Citie of Aken, was in the yeare 1603. surprised with a great mailadie, whereof she feeling her self abettred, endeuoured to go into a caue of the hows to fetche somthing thence, and beeing come to the last step, was suddainely taken with a certain kynd of Appoplexie: which made her fall down to the grownd, hauing much hurt her self on her left syde, and especially her hand and foot on that syde, in such sorte that she could do no manner of woork: and was forced to walk with a crutch, for other wyse she was not able to goe & in this manner she continued ten whole weekes.

In the meane whyle, hauing hard reporte of the miracles which by the inuocation of our Ladie, were wrought at Mōtaigue she resolued lykewyse to go thither for the recouery of her health: and [Page] arriued at the place vpō the xxth of Iune, in the same yeare 1603. and so soon as she drew neer to the mountayne, she began to feel a great, yea an intollerable gnawing, in her left hand, which was so lame, fast closed together, and dead, that she had no feeling thereof, no not when they pricked it with any sharp pointed thing. When with certaine of her neighbours she was come vp to the Chappel, they went about it some tymes on foot, some tymes on their knees, making their prayers very deuoutly: and foorth with her dry and dead hand opened of it self, to the great admiration & comfort both of her self, & of all those that assisted her. For more proof whereof, withdrawing her self into a cottage which was in that mountaine, made her self redy & dressed her head, as wel with the one hand as with the other, & this in the sight of very many: which for the space of the foresayd tē weeks she was neuer able to do: and thus returning whole to her home, she continued euer after very wel, as she remaineth at this presēt xth of March in the yeare 1604. On which day she affirmed and auouched all that hath byn [Page] sayd, in the foresaid citie of Aken in the presence of Maister Peeter Hensenius Licē tiate in diuinitie, Curate of S. Foilliē, S [...]euē Radermaker de Kelmis maier of E [...]eburg neer vnto Esselbeke, Leonard Loop de Kelmis and Brice Isertant brother vnto this Marie, all which last three did in like māner affirm, that they had seē the sayd Marie attainted with the Apoplexie & palsie, as hath been sayd, conformable to a wryting framed heer of bearing the date aboue specified.

Of a lame young man cured.

HEnry Capenbergh sonne of Iohn Capenbergh In Iuly 1603. dwelling neere vnto Kerckraid, in the territorie of Shertogen-rode in the Cuntrie beyond the Me [...]se, was lame of both his legges, & so had continued eight yeeres continualy, in such sorte, that he could hardly go with crutches: and although his father had caused all mān [...] of remedies & medecines to be applied vnto him, yet could he not procure him any help or ease at all. But after he had hard tel of the miracles which were wrought at Montaigu, he took his way thitherward with his crutches, to performe [Page] there his deuotion, hoping, that the glorious Mother of God would not faile to assist him, and to pray for him. At which place he arriued the secōd of Iulie 1603. beeing the feast of the Visitatiō of our Ladie, and there offered vp his prayers right deuoutly before the Chappel: which beeing ended, he felt himself much eased & in better order thē before: and as he returned homeward, passing by Akē & there praying to the Virgin Marie in her church which is in that citie, he foūd himself so much bettered, that there he left and offered vp one of his crutches. Neuer-the-lesse once again he returned with one crutche to Montaigu, in the end of the aforesayd moneth, where hauing renued his prayers, he found himself perfectly whole & recouered, so that leauing his other crutch at our Ladies Chappel, home he returned safe and sound, with out the help of any to assist him, as he stil continueth, & was so vpon the xviijth. of Februarie in the yeare 1604, on which day he declared & affirmed the foresayd particularities, before the Magistrates of Akë as is to be seen by a wryting penned thereof, subsigned Nicolaus Munsterus Secretarie, [Page] and sealed with the seale of thesayd Citie.

Of a woman that was cured of many straunge accidents.

IOane Cas, wyfe vnto VVilliam de Bois In Iuly 1603. dwelling at Iābez in the suburbs of the Citie of Namures▪ was broken on both [...] des, each rupture coming foorth as bigg as ones fist: the which she had endured for the space of eleuē or twelue yeares. And in the yeare 1601. in the moneth of May throwing hay out of her loft, down she fell, & broke her right legge, to the cure whereof she ēploied many remedies and medcines, but she could not be so wel holpen but that she remained lame and impotent on that leg: in such sorte that she was constained to walk with a crutch, and her legge remayned very ful of paine. Moreouer in the yeare 1603, in the moneth of Iulie, her stomack swelled as great as a mannes head, whether it was by any inward rupture of that part which Physitions call P [...]ritonaū, in which the bowels are contained, or by some [Page] other accident, so it was, that it bred in her such a disease and vexation, that she was brought to such extremitie, that she was reddy to giue vp the ghoste, and this according to the iudgement of her Curate, and of Maister Hermes Petit Doctor of Physick in Namures. The patiēt beeing in these termes, it happened that a certaine woman of her acquaintance called Catharin Meurisse came to visit her, who seeing her in such anxietie and danger, counseled her, & sayd, she might do wel to vow some Pilgrimage to our Ladie at Montaigu neere to Sichen, affirming that she her self by this meanes was cured of the grauel wherewith she had been long tyme afflicted. Which when the sayd patient had hard, whith great deuotion she sayd, that she did promisse to go that Pilgrimage through the grace and assistance of almightie God. And on the same day about some three howers after she had thus promised, the aforesayd Ioane Cas foūd her self intierly whol and cured, as wel of her Rupt [...]es, as of the swelling of her stomack: & so rysing out of her bed, she begā to walk vp & down her hows, not onely without her cruch [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] wherewith she was wount to help herself before, but also without any stick or staffe or any other thing els to support her. And frō that day forward she could go with one shooe vnderlayd and made higher the bredth of ones hand, because her broken legge was become so much more shorte thē the other. And in October following, she accomplished her pilgrimage to our Ladie at Montaigu as before she had vowed; which when she had performed, she felt greater ease in her leg thē before, in somuch that her shooe is now but of an inch highe, which was of a handbredth high before. And all this that hath been here set down, the sayd Ioan Cas declared and verified vnder her solemn o [...]he, in the hands of C. R [...]m [...]s Notarie, in presence of the Reuerēd Sir Giles Bosman Chanon & Archpriest of the Bishoprick of Namures, and Pierchon Pimperneau witnesses, cōformable to a publick wryting framed hereof, and subsigned by the sayd Notarie and dated the ixth. of April 1604.

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How a wenche was suddainely healed of many soares.

WAlter Gilton glasier and Marie de In Aug. 1 [...]03. Rau [...]schot his wyfe, burge [...]s and inhabitants of the Citie of Louaine had amongst other children a daughter of thirteen yeares of age, called Catharin, which chyld in the year 1600. fel into an infirmitie and disease which is cōmonly called the kings euil, or the euil of S. Marcoul, Because that sainct in France doth he [...]e this disease in such as at his tombe commēd them selues to his holy intercessi [...] which broke out into more then an hundred holes, rūning with matter down all her bodie, hands, armes, neck, face, eies, belly, legges & feet, before & behynd & on euery [...]yd: and her mouth was swolne as bigge as three mouthes, and in lyke manner was her nose and all her face, & her eyes were so swolne & ful of paine, that she was scarce able to see: and shee became so weak that she could not liue, and yet she could not dy: beeing sometymes in such pitiful sorte afflicted, that for the space of three moneths she could not stirr out of her bed, neither could she moue either hand or foot: and further [Page] more when so euer she rose vp out of her bed, she could not go one step without the help of a staffe. To remedie which disease, her parents vsed the aduise and Counsel of many Doctors of Physick, and Surgeons, who had prescribed her many drincks and drugges, but [...]ll was to no purpose or prosit at all. Afterwards an other very skilful & famous Surgeon dwelling in that Citie of L [...]i [...] called M. Rombold walters, beeing much commended vnto thē, they couenaunted with him for a certaine sōme of mony, that he would take in hād to cure theyr daughter, wherein he took great paines, visiting and imploying his labor & skill about her, twyse euery day, for six moneths space, & yet for al this could he not obtaine his desyred purpos. These things hauing thus continued for the space of three yeeres, and this poor▪ Catharin hauing hard reporte of the miracles of our Ladie at Montaigu, and amongst others how a certaine lame woman was there cured: she importuned her parents, that they would vouchesafe to go with her vnto that place of pilgrimage: to which her request they yeelded, and promised [Page] they would so do: and where as her father intended to carie her on his back the chyld would not permit that, but rather resolued to goe thither her self on soot, saying that she would force her self thereunto: and she hoped that she should perfourme that voyage on foot, and so vpon the second of August 1603. they made thē selues reddie for their iournie, & they put on their daughter a cleane smock, taking from her that which she had worne, the which (be it written with reuerence to the reader) was stif with the filth and matter▪ which did yslue out of the soares of her bodie: and putting a staffe in her hand, after they had dyned they deparfrom L [...]ame, hauing in theyr companie [...] C [...]ema [...]s & his wyfe, Martin L [...] [...] and others of their neighbours: and that night they went and lodged at a village called T [...]ielt, with is distant some three myles from the foresayd Citie, having much stayed by the way, by reason of the great difficultie the sayd wench had to go. The next day in the morning notwithstanding that it rained (which was verie troublesome to the patient) they took their way forwards towards [Page] Montaigu, where they arriued before midday, and there did their deuotion at the Chappel of our Ladie, from the tyme of their arriual til after dinner, and there offered vp a chyld made in wax: and hauing continued their prayers for one howers space, they retyred themselues into a booth or cottage hard by, and there reposed themselues, expecting til the raine (which stil continued) would cease: but when they saw it ceased not, they all set forwardes on foot with the little mayd, to returne home againe. In which their returne the patiēt (although she had alredie gon so much that day) walked with better courage, then she had donne before, wherat all those of her companie were much astonished, and the sayd patient passed on her way singing sometymes certaine sonnets which the children of her yeares are wount ordinarily to sing. And being now come within half a mile of L [...]uai [...]e the Father seeing his daughter to wax somwhat werie, he carried her on his back vntil he came to the citie gates: & so soon as they were at home, the mother put the chyld into her bed as she was accustomed to [Page] doe: & she passed that night very quietly, but the next morning the mayd arose and put on her apparel without any help, and came down, and tould her mother that she had no filth or matter on her smock, & that she felt no grief at all in her bodie, but that she found her self wholy cured. Whereupon her Father & Mother searched her with all diligence, & found her smock faire and cleane, without any spotts at all, and which was more, they foūd al her sores, which were very many to be wholy cured and shut vp, and especially on her belly (where her grief was greatest before) and that all was strong & quite gon: yea leauing very few scares behynd: in such sorte that her mother finding her thus cured made no difficulte to let her ly that very nyght following with the rest of her Children who were wel in health: the which for three yeare [...] before she durst neuer haue permitted. After this shee remained whole & wel, not troubled with any grief in the world and so she continueth euen to this present day. And since her cure she hath been twise at Montaigue, once on foot, and another tyme by waggon, to render [Page] thancks to God and his glorious Mother for so great and singuler a benefit. All this that hath been sayd, was affirmed and auerred by both the parents of the chyld, before the Magistrates of the sayd citie of Lo [...]ain, vpon the xxvjth. of Iune in the yeare 1604, and vpō the self same day the aboue named next neighbours of the foresayd walter Gilton, made their apparēce before the sayd Magistrates, who did in semblable manner affirm and declare, that they had sundrie tymes seen the foresayd wench, both before & after her Pilgrimage to Montaigu: and that before she was in the a foresayd euil case, and that afterwards she miraculously & perfectly was cured, as hath been sayd. As it appeareth by the attestation of the aforesayd Magistrates and dated as aboue, subsigned R. le Prince, and sealed with the seale of the same citie.

How a man whose legges were eaten with the canker was healed.

HEnry Loye [...] alias de Visschere beeing ofIn Aug. 1603. 75 yeares of age, dwelling in the [Page] Village of Rerthem, neere to the Citie of Lo [...]ain had about midsomer 1603. his legs and feet so grieuously swolne, that he could put on no shoes, the paine was so excessiue which he endured: and in the moneth of Iulte in the same yeare there burst out in each of his legges a hole neere to the ancle and instep of the foot: the which holes within eight dayes grew so bad, and became so large and deep, that on the one syde a man myght put in his three fingers, and on the other syde there was dead fleshe of the length of ones finger: and the patient affirmed that he felt such paine thereof, as yf it had bin g [...]awn by dogges. The which some iudged to be the cāker, for that the edges of the wounds were ful of dead black flesh: and that frō the bottom the blood alwayes issued out with so terrible a stentche, that no creature was able to indure it: and as they perceiued that the poor patient found no help by any thing that he applyed, he was counseled by some person, to go and visit our Ladie at Montaigu: which he promised and vowed to do, in hope there to receiue some consolation, and he neuer left to proceed in [Page] his intent, vntil he was caried thither: but for so much a [...] he was so sick and weak, none durst take the matter vpon them, except he were first put in the state of grace, for feare least he should haue dyed in the way as he went. The which thing after the patient had vnderstood, he caused himself to be caried to the Church of B [...]rthem, where he made his confession, and cōmunicated, the blood running from him by the way as he wēt. And a few dayes after, to witt vpon the fift of August in the aforesaid yeare 1603. he made himself to be caried in a waggon vnto Montaigu, where at our Ladies Chappel he did his deuotiō: & a certaine Priest that then was there, coūseled him that he should make twise more that voyage, and that for this purpose he should make choice of the Fryday, and that he should haue a good confidence in the assistance of the Mother of God. The patiēt being returned home he foūd his legges much lesser and vnswolne, and the paine thereof much more tollerable then before. Whereupon following the Counsel that was giuen him, he returned again the secōd tyme by waggō to Montaigu, [Page] vpon the feast of the Assumption of our Ladie: and after he had ended his prayers, he found much more ease then before. And vpon the next friday, beeing the xxij of the same moneth, he was brought thither the third tyme, and did his deuotions as before, and hauing at euery of these tymes been led thrise about the Chappel, not without effusion of his blood, which ranne from his legges vpon the earth, together with a very great stenche as diuers of Montaigu reported, who then were present. And from thēce beeing come home, he fel into so great weaknes & such a swouning that euerie one thought he should haue foorth with giuen vp his ghost: the which beeing ouer passed he affirmed that he felt a great and notable amendment of his legges & after that day the two great woūds in his legges were by litle and litle cured and filled vp of themselues, and all the dead and corrupte flesh became good. So as the same patient remaineth cured euen at this present, hauing nothing le [...]t him but the scarres of the soares, which are eache of thē of a span in greatnes. All which is wel known by an authentical [Page] attestatiō made before the Curate, Maier & Escheuins, of the said village of Berchē, vpon the xxij. of Februarie 1604. and sealed with the ordinarie seale of that village.

The healing of a bunche.

SIster B [...]trice Ieroo [...]s a lay sister professedIn Aug. 1603. in the Cloister of S. Vrsula or of the eleuen thousand Virgins, in a place called the Halfstreet in the Citie of Louain [...] In this monaste rie a ver [...]ous & venerable cō [...]nie of English gen [...]evvomen [...]e profested. contracted vpon the year [...] 160 [...]. a certaine accident, betwixt the right pap and her shoulder before, which was a kynd of bunch that happened her (as she thought) by continual casting her armes, in throwing of water with a wooden dish vpon l [...]nnen, which they are woūt to bleache in that Cloister: which bunch was as great as ones fist, and it was not fleshy or soft, but rather stiffe & hard as a bone, which grew (as it seemed vnto her) euen out of the shoulder bone, yet not hauing any different colour from the other partes of her bodie, neither was it any whit paineful, but onely when she [Page] pressed it, and then somtymes it happened that she cast blood out of her mouth The which she sustained (without applying any remedie thereunto) about one yeare and a half. But when she had heard of the miracles which were donne at Moutaigu by the inuocation of our ladie, she began to haue a desire to goe thether in pilgrimage, and to pray that she might be cured, much confiding that the glorious Virgin would assist her herein. And hereupō hauing obtained licēce of her Superiour she took her voyage to the sayd Mōtaigu, in the begining of August 1603. where she did her deuotion in the Chappel of our Ladie, from thence she went to lodge at Sichen, which is distant a little half duitche myle from that place, where she perceiued that her accident began to wax better: and the next morning returning to Montaigu, whyles she was there at her prayers, she felt certaine stretchings and straynings from her head to her right arme, and towards the place where her bunch did grow: but beeing that day returned to Louaine, the next morning as she arose she found [...]r accidēt wholie cured and the bunch [Page] to haue become of the-same [...]e [...]nes with the other partes of her bodie, so that there was no difference thereby at al, and from that tyme she hath re [...]ained without all pain or whatsoeuer accidēt, as the sayd Religious woman auouched in the presence of her Mother or superiour & others of the sayd Conuent, vnto whome the euil which the-sayd sister sustained, and from which she was now freed, was wel known: and lykewyse in the presence of the Venerable Fathers in God sir Iames van Ghele Priest and Doctor of Diuinitie, and Sir Iames de Bee [...] d'Oesterwijck, also Bacheler in Diuinitie, and Religions in the Conuent of the Iacobins in Louain and of M. Roland l [...] Prince: Secretarie of the sayd Citie, vpon the xxviijth. of October 1603. and vpon the vjth. of Ianuarie 1604, according to an act that by the sayd Secretarie le Prince was framed hereof,

How a man that was sick of the falling euil was cured.

MAtia Pacgen sonne of Gaspar Pacgen [...]n Aug. 1603. of Herbagh borne at S. Lauren [...] berg [Page] in Cuntrie of Iuliers, neere vnto, Ald [...]n-ho [...], came vnto Montaigu in the beginning of August 1603. to make there his petition to our Ladie, that by her intercession he might be freed frō the disease & infirmitie of the falling sicknes, wherewith for seuen yeares past he had been troubled, for that he had vnderstood that our Lord did many miracles at the inuocation of his holie Mother in that place. And so remaining some eight or tē dayes at the sayd Moūtaine, he made his prayers deuoutely before the Chappel of our Ladie: during which tyme he was assailed six or seuen tymes euery da [...] (as accustomarily he was wount to haue been) with three sortes or kyndes of the falling euil: with such a rage and vehemencie, with such knocks hurling and cryes, that euery one thought he would haue been burst, or that he should haue dyed, which was a most pitiful sight vnto all the Pilgrimes that were there present: who also endevoured by their prayers and almes to obtaine of God his cure and amendment. And vpon the eue of the Assumption of our Ladie in the sayd moneth of August, this Mathias perseuering in his prayers and deuotions, [Page] found himself in perfect health and quyte deliuered from all these maladies: in such sorte that the next day euery one might manifestly see, that not onely he was deliuered frō his falling sicknes, but that there withall he had recouered a faire & liuely colour in his face, which before was very dead and pale, and his bo [...]e much swolne, as many who had seen him at Montaigu whyle he had his disease, and afterwards when he was healed, affirmed. Thus the sayd Mathi [...]s returned in good plight to his hows by Alden [...]uen. And in the beginning of Februarie in th [...] yeare 1604. he repaired an other tyme to Montaigu, to render thācks vnto God and his glorious Mother for the benefit which he had there obtained, wherewith at yet he continueth most certaine & assured. Afterwards (to witt, vpon the xiiij. of the sayd moneth) he returned thither once againe, & brought with him the attestation concerning his maladies geuen him by the Curace of Alden [...] [...]uen, and also by the Magistrates of the Imperial Citie of [...]ken, dated vpō the xviij. of the aforesayd moneth of Februarie, and subsigned Nicolaus Munsterus Secretary [Page] and sealed with the seale of the same Citie.

Of a spice of Leprosie which was there cured.

MAthew Croisier sonne to Reynold Croisier In Aug. 1603. dwelling in the town of Huy in the Cuntrie of Liege, beeing about twelue yeares old, in the yeare 1603. became so ful of scabbes and botches running down along his bodie, that by the Curate and Curch-wardens of Sainct Steuens Parish in the same town, he was presented before the Magistrates of Huy, for a leper, and hereupon they made him to be more diligently serched in the Citie of Li [...]ge, to the end that yf he were found a leper indeed they myght prouide for him some necessarie entertainement, and so to seperate him from the companie and conuersation of other men.

For which cause the Magistrates appointed that they should deliuer him as from the town, a bushel of corn for his food, vntil such tyme as they were fully informed of his maladie. In the meane whyle this youth was visited by M. Thomas [Page] d'O [...]i [...], and maister Ni [...]l [...] de [...] Surgeo [...]s of the sayd Citie, who found him full of botches, scabbes, and deep sores, wherein he had no feeling at all: and yet could they not certainely iudge what euil it was: as appeareth by the attestation of the-sayd Magistrates giuen vnder their s [...]al [...] vpon the xvij. of Ia [...]uarie 1604. But the father of this youth hauing been in Pilgrimage at Montaigu, and hauing seen and known the miracles which were there donne by the inuocation of the glorious Virgin Marie, he caused his sonne to be brought thither, in hope to fynd there some help for him, and this was about the middest of August in the yeare 1603. Now as the youth was carried round about the Chappel of our lady he began to cry out, that he was burned within his bodie, & after they had ended their deuotions, they caried him in-to a booth or cottage hard by, where he rested very quietly that night, and in the morning they found some of his botches healed, and all his soares and holes shut vp, and continuing there his denotions, within two or three dayes all his other soare [...] and botches of his bodie were [Page] [...]red of them-selues, nothing remayning but certaine red spottes as large as half a philip daller, and those were to the number of fortie or fiftie. Moreouer this youth was broken in such sorte, that his secret partes were swolne as big as bothe ones fi [...]ts: of which rupture he was also cured at that tyme, without any humaine help or assistance: and here of many persons of credit who were then at Montaigu do beare good testimonie, and namely M. Iames de Castr [...] Doctor of di [...]initie, Archpriest or dean of the Christianitie in Diest, Sir Iohn Ha [...]egreaf Curate of Testel [...], Maister Io [...]chim B [...]scher Secretarie of the Coū sell of Brab [...], Peter de Ham Notarie, residing at Diest, and Iohn Baptist Zangre sworn Printer in the Citie of Lou [...]in [...], of which persons some visited the yong mān [...]s naked bodie, and considered the perfectiō of his sayd cure, with the s [...]a [...]res that remained. And the same yong man coming afterwards to Bruxelles, was visited by a skilful Surgeon, and found whole, and quyte deliuered of his rupture, and from all other diseases whatsoeuer.

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How a man bruised with a fall was cured.

COr [...]eli [...]s Fex inhabitant of the townIn Aug. 160 [...]. of Diest one day going about his affaires, and passing betwixt the villages of [...] and M [...]r [...]eke by Diest, happened to stumble and to fall vpon a stump of wood lying in the way: so that he in [...]ardly grieuouselie hurt himself in his b [...]east, & for the s [...]ace of [...]ix whole weeks was grieuously [...]ick thereof, and after he had vsed the help of a Surgean, who had applyed diuers remedies and oyntments about him, yet found he no amēdment at all: where vpon [...]e purposed to go and vi [...]it our Ladie at Montaigu, where in August 1603. hauing dōne his deuotion and washt his brest with a certain water which is in the sayd mountaine, he was immediately deliuered from all his p [...]i [...] and griefes, & neuer after felt any of thē. And all this was solemnly sworne [...] a [...]ouched by the foresayd Cornelius before the Magistrates of Diest. vpon the XXth▪ of March in the yeare 1604. and an I [...]str [...]ment was formed & made thereof [Page] [...] signed I. [...] [...]n G [...]d [...]-h [...]is [...] and sealed with the seale of the aforesaid town.

The Palsey Cured.

LEonard Tee [...]ers dwelling at Beri [...]gen inIn Aug. 160 [...]. the Cuntry of Li [...]ge was sick of the Palsey, and so taken in all his limmes, that he could moue none of them, but onely his head and tongue: the which hauing continued thus a yeare and a half, fynding no help in any of the receiptes or medicines which were imployed for his [...]ure, and being at the length aduertised of the miracles which were wrought at Montaigu, he resolued to cause himself to be caried thither, hauing great confidēce to fynd some help by the [...]ntercession of the glorious Virgin Ma [...]ie. The which he performed, and was caried thither in a wagon wherein he was to be taken vp and layd down euen as a verie infant: when he had finished his deuotion at the chappel of our Ladie, he caused himself to be caried home back againe, in the same wagon, without perceiuing as [...]et any amendment, but some two or three [Page] dayes after, he begā to moue his limmes and to creep vpon his hands and feet about the how [...]. An other tyme after that he had a great desire to goe againe to visit our Ladie at Mōtaigu wherfore he caused a wagō to be prepared for him, and he had now recouered so much strēgth that he could goe from his hows to the place where the wagon was, and hauing the second tyme dōne his deuotion vnto our Ladie, he obtained so much ease, that he left there one of his crutches, and with the other and the help of the wagon he returned home, in better disposition, and with more force then he had before. But fifteen dayes after he came thither againe the third tyme, and walked thither on foot only with one crutch & seiour [...]ed at Montaigu for the space of fifteen dayes, dooing there his daylie deuotions: & returned home againe with his crutch, but with more strength & in better health and disposition of his bodie then the two tymes before: and sithens he hath euery day found more ease & amendment. Al this that hath here been sayd this Leonard Pee [...]ers declared and testyfied vpon the xvth of August 1604. in the presence of Sir [Page] Godfrey of Thi [...]nwinkele Curate of Sichen, Sir Iohn Rosa Prior of the Iacobins in Loua [...]e & Licentiate in Diuinitie, Brother William Sil [...]ius procurator of the same Conuent, Maister Anthonie Bouckhout Maier of Sichen and Iohn Baptist Zangre Printer: as also afterwards he auouched the same vnder his othe solemly made before the Eschoutet, Maier and Escheuins of the aforesayd town of Beringen, as it may be seen by their attestation sealed with their seale, and subsigned Heuricus Cillemus secretarie.

The Healing of a certaine disease called the Scurutes.

Elizabeth Vander Hoeuen wyfe vntoIn Aug. 1 [...]0 [...]. Zacharias van A [...]roy, dwelling in the village of Grasen neer to Bets in the territorie of Diest, was in the lent 1603. taken with an accidēt and maladie which bred great prickīgs in euery parte of her body, together with many black spottes of the bignes of a phillip daler whereby she became no [...] onely so weake & impotent that she could do no manner of work but, more ouer she had such vehement paine [Page] that she could rest neither night nor daye so that she did nothing but runne out of her bed and presently runne thither back againe, as yf she had been depriued of her wittes: yet called she continually vpō the name of the blessed Virgin Marie, to the end she would pray for her in this her affliction: which continued vntil August, in the sayd yeare of our Lord 1603. And then hauing hard some speak of the miracles which were wrought at Montaigu, by the intercession of the Mother of God, shee deuoutly resolued to make a pilgrimage to that place, the which she performed▪ and praying at the Chappel of our Ladie, immediately as she had ended her prayers, she felt a great amendment, and that the foresayd prickings and stingings ceased: and from that tyme forwards she began to be better: whereupō she was moued to return again vnto Montaigu to render thancks to the Virgin Marie, for the help she receiued by her meanes, after which iourney (being very soone after the other) the same Elizabe [...] went home in perfect health and strēgth, and became so strong and able of bodie, in so much as she affirmed that she neuer [Page] felt her self better in all her lyf. According to her attestation of all the premises which iuridicallie passed before the Eschoutet and men of law of the foresayd Lordship of Grasen vpon the thirteenth of March 1604.

How a mayd was healed of her legges that were swolne and ful of paine.

MArtha Vander Tay being of two andIn Aug. 26 0 [...]. fortie yeares of age, mayd seruant in the hows of M. Iohn Vāden Petre Clarck in the Counsel of Brabant in Bruxelles: had a disease and accidēt in her legges, which hapened her in the yeare 1603, whereby they became very great and swolne, and so ful of ache that she could doe no kynd of labor, yea she could not so much as goe without extreme grief and shedding of teares, neither could she repose in the night through the vehemēcie of her paine which neuer stinted: but continued for the space of more then three monethes. Her Maister beeing desirous to help her, [...]sed the counsel of a certaine Phisition dwelling in the sayd Citie, and afterward [Page] of certain other men and women practitioners in phisick: and they appointed her a number of diuers receip [...]o [...], as of bathes, fomentations, ointments and other such lyke, but all in vaine and without any help at all. Whereupon her sayd maister (seeing her past hope to be cured, and that yf she were cu [...]t she should remaine a cripple, and miserable all the residue of her lyfe, as not able any wayes to gaine her liuing) entred into a deliberation to place her and to prouide for her in some Hospitall, where she might be maintained. But whē the fame of the miracles of our Ladie at Montaigu began to be bruited abroad, he resolued at the last to send her thither, hoping that there she might be holpen. And so about mid August she was sent by waggon to a Cloister called Te [...]Ba [...]ck neer to the Citie of Lo [...]in, wherein a sister of the sayd Clark liued: & from thence also by waggon she was conueyed to Diest, that the next morning after she might goe to Montaigu. In which voyage this Martha began alredy to fynd some ease in her legges. Hauing rested one night in Diest, she made her self readie in the morning [Page] to goe on foot vnto Montaigu, but it seemed vnto her a thing vnpossible, and so she stood in a doubt what she might doe: which whē the wyfe of the hows where she lodged perceiued, she bad her be of good courage, and exhorted her to goe not onely on foot, but barefoot also, for that there was but one good myle to the place, which seemed vnto the sayd Martha a thing altogether out of her power: not withstanding beeing much animated by the woman exhortation, and with the hope which she gaue her that the Mother of God would not permit her to return without comfort, on she se [...] forward barefoot, and as she went, she begāto feel that her legges waxed better & better. And beeing arriued at our Ladies chappel whylst she was at her prayers, she felt all the swelling and paines of her legges and feet to cease and quite to be go [...], euen as yf one should feel some thīg to be vntied & loosed which before was bound and made fast: and when her prayers were ended she returned again barefoot vnto Diest, beeing whole and maruelously comforted: and from Diest [Page] by waggon she went back to Louain, & so to Bruxelles fynding herself very wel in all her bodie, as she is now euen at this present. And all this that heer hath ben set down, was verified and auouched by herself, vnder her othe solemnly made before those of the law in the sayd Citie of Bruxelles, vpon the xxvith▪ of April 1604. as may be seen by their attestation giuen hereof, subsigned Numan, and scaled with the sayd Cities seale.

A meruelous cure of an incurable wound.

LEonard Stock [...]an born at S. Georges, inIn Sept. 160 [...]. the territory of the town of H [...]y in the countrie of Liege, about some fourteen year ago as he trauayled one day through the forest of Seign [...] neer to a village called [...]aterl [...]s not farr from Bruxelles, was assailed by a theef and murderer: who handled him so cruelly, and gaue him so manie woundes, that he left him for dead in the place: and amongst others he gaue him a gash on the left hamme, in such sorte that he cut in sunder his sinewes, and it passed euen to the bone. In this case [Page] was he brought to an Hospital in Bruxelles, that there he might be seen vnto: & within a certaine tyme al his wounds were healed saue that of his hamme, the which because the sinewes were cutt, euery one estemed as incurable, wherfore beeing dismissed out of the Hospital he was forced to goe with two crutches: yet through the abundance of humours, which somtymes had thither thir cours there ensued many new sores and issues round about the principal wound: and although he vsed diuers medicines of certain Phisitions, yea and had perfourmed diuers pilgrimages, yet he found no help at all. At the last in the moneth of September 1603. he went to visit our ladies at Montaigu: where hauing cōtinued nyne dayes, and daylie washing his sores with a certaine water that is in that moūtaine not far from the chappel, he found that the lesser sores cured of themselues, and when the nyne dayes were expired, he perceiued that the cut & interessed sinewes of his leg, were grown & made fast within to the bone of his sayd leg, and that they were roūd about couered with flesh, and [...]ew skinne: yet the place of [Page] the great wound remained hollow, and with so great a hole, that one might easilie put his fist therein. And thus this Loonard was perfectly cured, without any impediment or grief, walking, going and assisting himself, with the sayd leg euen as he himself pleased, and as any other man that is whole and soūd might doe: hauing afterward made on foot the way betwixt Montaigu & Louain, which isdu [...]tche [...]iles. fiue good lōg miles, and this he did in the moneth of October next following. All which the sayd Stockneau declared and affirmed vnder a so emn othe which he made before the Curate Ma [...]er & Escheuins of Siclen the xxith. of April, 1604. according to an instrument [...]ormed thereof, signed [...]. [...]an Ogernen Secretarie, and sealed withe the seale of the sayd town.

How an old man was cured of the falling euil.

G [...]les Libens beeing seuentie yeares of age dwelling at Attenhouen by theIn Sept. 160 [...]. town of Landen in Bra [...]ant, was [...]exed with the falling [...]uil aboue fiftie yeares together, and he was torm [...]ted therewith [Page] especially vpon Sundayes and Hollydayes, hauing but little ease of it vpon other dayes. This aged man beeing mooued by the miracles wrought at Mōtaigu, purposed with himself to go thither in Pilgrimage, & there to intreate the blessed Virgin to obtaine for him that he might be healed: the which he performed vpon the seuenth of September in the foresayd yeare 1603. & hauing there finished his deuotions, he returned whole & in good plight, without euer after feeling any molestation thereof: as he affirmed before the Maier & Escheuins of the sayd Lordship of Attehouen vpon the xxijth. of March, in the yeare 1604. & an instrument was drawn therof, subsigned Nicolaus Nicola [...] Secretarie, and sealed with the seale of the sayd Lordship.

How a man was healed of a rupture

IOhn Hagels Carpēter dwelling at Ade [...]oort In Sept. 1603. by Heylihsem, neer Tilem [...]nt, in Brabant, being threescore & fower yeares old, in the yeare 1602, & in the moneth of August trauailing in reaping of corne [Page] in the fields between the villages of w [...]nde & Rai [...]s [...]uen, foūd that he was inwardly built by ouermuch labor: wherupon ensued a very great and excessiue paine; which continued a whole yeare, notwithstāding that he had aplied many remedies in vaine, at the last hauing hard of the miracles of our Ladie at Montaigv, and how by her intercession diuers had ben healed of the lyke accident, he went thither with great deuotion and confidence, vpon the eight of September 1603, being the feast of the Na [...]iuit [...]e of our lady, and hauing made his prayers at the Chappel, he foūd much ease of his paine, for which cause within some weekes after he returned twise thither againe, and at the third tyme he found himself perfectly cured of his Rupture: & leauing there his trusse wherewith he was accustomed to ty hiself, he neuer after felt a [...] the least paine or hinderance thereby. As vnder his solēn othe he auouched (beeing summoned thereunto before the Curate, Maier & Escheuins of the Vilage of Neder heylighse [...], vpon the eleuenth of Februarie 1604. according to their attestation subsigned Seruatius Rosi [...]s Curate, G [...] la [...]e [Page] van Meeusele Maier, and G. Persoōs Secretarie, and sealed with the seale of the sayd Village.

The Curing of diuers accidents.

MAister Francis Eland Curate of theIn Sept. 160 [...]. Church called the Chappelle de nostre Dame in the Citie of Bruxelles, was much troubled with a flux of the Hemorhoides commonly called in French les brochet which he had long tyme indured. Besydes this he was Astmaticque, that is to say much stratened in his breast, & short breathed, in somuch as euery one thought he could neuer recouer, notwithstanding that he ordinarily vsed the coūsel of sundry physitions: who can wel witnes, how that within one we [...]k he lost aboue thirtie ounces of blood. The which disease continuing thus for diuers yeares, there followed vpon it a great swelling in his feet and legges like vnto a dropsie, and this cōtinued for fower yeares together, notwithstanding that many remedies were vsed about him, as bathes, fomentations, ointments, and other such like, [Page] so that he fel into such an infirmitie and weakenes, (beeing now come to the threescore & three yeare of his age) that the Phisitions despaired of his health and lyfe: hauing so lost his speach and memorie, that they thought he should neuer recouer the due vse of his speache so long as he liued: and this they held as assured, that at leastwise he would neuer be fitt to execute his office of Pastorship again, Wherefore at last he resolved to goc & intreat our Ladie at Mōtaigu for his health and so he caused him self to be carried thither in September 1603. where hauing donne his deuotions, and returning back towards Bruxelles, he felt a certain kynd of itching or byting, and alteration in his legges, and besydes this, a new strength and ease in his sinewes: and beeing come home, he found that all the former swelling in his feet and legges was gone, in such sorte, that from that tyme he hath vsed no further remedies, ointments, or receiptes, fynding himself also free from all his other accidents as wel of the Hemor [...]ides, as of the debilitie and impotencie into which he was fallne: yea he had gaigned so good a stomak, [Page] and is become so liuely, in somuch as he auoucheth and affirmeth that [...]ow beeing threescore and lower yeares old he feeleth himself more strong and ab [...]e, thē he was at the age of for [...]e or [...]tie, the which he also approoueth by his outward carriage, perfourming againe his office of pastorship more liuely and dexterously then euer he did before. And all this (as he acknowledgeth and affirmeth) by the intercession and assistance of the glorious Virgin Marie. As of all the premises he hath giuen a sufficient attestation, written by his own hand in memorie of the benefit which God bestowed vpon him.

How an old man was healed of a great rupture

DAniel Smith Sextane of the parish church of the town of Viluord, neer vnto Bruxelles, beeing threescore & seuē yeares old, was some twenty yeares before brokē on the right syde of his belly, as big as both ones fistes, which happened as he thought by rīging the belles of that Church. For the remedying whereof, he did onlie [...]ty himself with a trusse, made [Page] fitt for the purpose: yet for all that he felt very often such vehement paine, that he thought he should haue lost his sences, & in this manner he went vp and down with great difficultie. But about the moneth of August 160 [...], he was seased vpon with a long and grieuous disease, where by he thought he should fall into a dropfie beeing very feeble, hauing no appetite to his meat, and vnable to do any thing without great paine and trauaile, which continued a whole moneth space. In which tyme his wyfe hauing hard talk of the miracles which by the intercession of our Ladie were wrought at Montaigu, she resolued to goe thither, and to pray there for her husbāds recouerie, or at least for the mittigatiō of his paines, and especially of his Rupture, where with he was so cruelly tormented: the which she performed not long after. Beeing thē come to Montaigu, vpon an euening at the tyme of Salue, this Daniel beeing in the Church at Viluord, told certain persons that were neere vnto him, that he felt himself at that very tyme much eased of his malladie, which had continued now a whole moneth as hath been sayd: & that [Page] [...]e felt in himself an appetit to his meat, the which he neuer had all the tyme before: And from that instant his disease left him, so as he was no more therewith troubled afterwards. But his wyfe beeig returned from Montaigu, he enquired of her at what tyme and hower she did her deuotiō at the Chappel of our Ladie, and he vncerstood that it was in the euening about fiue of the clock, at the same tyme & instant that he found himself [...]ased of his disease as we haue sayd. And about the middest of September the sayd Daniel determined in like manner to go vnto Montaigu, partly for deuotion, and partly to giue thancks vnto God and his most holy Mother, for the fauour he had alredy obtained: and after this his determination (although it was three dayes before hee took his [...]or [...]ey) he found himself so much eased and amended of his Rupture, that to him it seemed in a māner cured. Finally departing from Viluord, in the cōpagnie of others of thes [...] me town, who were also to go to Mountao [...]e, not wearing any trusse as hee was accustomed, and there hauing made his prayers to our Ladie, in returning home on foot, [Page] foūd himself very lust [...]e, not feeling any paine or impediment by his Rupture, either in going or coming, but rather [...]ase & help: & beeing returned home, he found himself not onely perfectly holpē, but in so good a plight and disposition of bodie, as yf he were twentie yeares yonger then he was, in such sorte that euer since he hath remayned free of all grief and paine, & although he vsed no trusse, yet his Rupture neuer appeared. All these thinges the sayd Daniel & his wyfe haue solēnly auouched vnder their othes, before the Escheuins of Viluord, vpon the xxijth of April 1604. as it appeareth by the informations taken thereof, and signed, [...]. Gh [...]ris secretarie of the same town.

An admirable cure of diuers running sores

MIstris Martha de Rosenberge, daughterIn Sept. 160 [...]. vnto the Lord Maximilian Baron of Rosenberge, in St [...]ria, widdow vnto M. Mathias Wo [...]tzelman, sometyme Captaine of a companie of foot, in the seruice of his catholike maiestie in the low cūtries, induced for two yeares space a great accidēt [Page] in her right leg, wherein there were three open soares, which occupied her whole thigh, from the very top thereof to her knee, half an el in length, and a quarter in breadth, as appeared by the plaisters which she was wount to apply thereūto. Betwixt each of the sores there were twelue holes or issues, which proceeded of certaine cold and sharp humors, that discended thither frō her head: all which happened through the miserie and pouertie which she endured, while shee laboured in the court of Bruxels, for payment of such monny as was due vnto her husband for his seruice. For the curing of these soares she had taken the counsel of diuers, together with diuers remedies which sundrie particuler persones had prescribed her, without makīg her case known to any Phisition or Surgeon, & this vpon too much shame and bashfulnes that withheld her. But when she saw that all which she did profited her nothing, she was in fine constrained to put her self into the hands of some skilful Phisition or Surgeon, for the recouery of her desyred health, and therevpon she intreated M. Peter Paulson a germane [Page] surgeon, and one of the guard to our most gracious Prince and Soueraine the Archduke Albertus, to help her: who took vpon him to cure her, and for this purpose let her blood three or fower tymes, and withall gaue her a purgation, and took her into his hows the better to administer vnto her there the diet: applyīg to her soares all the remedies which according to the arte of surgerie he was able to inuent: yet could he for all his labour effectuate nothing, but onely that her paines were somwhat appeased, and sometymes her soares were shut vp, but they continued so not past a day or two, for foorth with they broke out againe as before, and could neuer be consolidated or strengthned. But at last this gentlewoman hauing hard in Bruxelles, of the miracles which were daylie wrought by the inuocation of the Virgin Marie at Montaigu, she had a great desyre to goe thither vpon deuotion, with hope and trust, that our Ladie would procure her her health: and the same night after that she had made this determinatiō betwixt waking and sleeping, it seemed vnto her that she saw the Image of our Ladie of Montaigu, [Page] with the wood that grew thereabout, & she felt as it were an inward motion and incouragemēt to make the foresayd voyage. Wherevpon the next morning following (which was the xxijth. of September 1603.) she beseeched our Ladie that she might fynd some that would accompany her to Montaigu. And afterwards going to the hows of M. Anne de la Croix her gossip who somedayes before had talked with her about her going to our Ladies, she inquired of her when she purposed to depart: vnto whome the other answered, tha [...] she intended to goe euen that very day: whereof this Gentlewoman Mistris Martha was very glad, and so went with the sayd Anne de la Croix to heare masse in the Church of S. Gudula in Bruxelles, and soon after they set on forewards in their way towards Louain, and the day following towards Montaigu In the way the sayd Mistris Martha felt so great paine in her leg, and with all she became so wearie, that she thought she should neuer come to the Chappel notwithstāding taking a good courage she went on so wel, that she came to a certaine pathway where (the direct way to [Page] Diest beeing left) people vse to turn on the left hand towards Montaigu, into which way so soon as they were entred she perceiued the paine (which she sustained from the top of her head all alōg her sore leg) to decrease, and by little and little to leaue her, and that all her wearines surceased therewith: and so beeing arriued at the chappel of our lady, they made there their prayers: afterwards hauing rested and warmed them selues in a litle hows thereby, they settled them selues that night again to their prayers, at which tyme this M. Martha began to feel herself much better, and without paine: whereupon (hauing felt this alteration) she looked vpon her leg, and she perceiued that her soares began to wax whole, in such sorte that taking away the clothes & plaisters which were applyed thereunto, she put them into her maūd: and the next day those that had seen her the day before affirmed, that they perceiued her to be much altered & amended, both in her cullour and coūtenance. And the same day (after she had giuen thācks to God and his holy mother) they returned to Bruxelles, shee feeling in her way [Page] the increase of her force and health: and when she was come home she found no more but one ho [...]e or issue in her leg, the which some two dayes after was peffectly shut vp of it self: in such sorte, that since that tyme she hath not onely inioyed intiere and perfect cure of her leg, but also she hath foūd a great force & strēgth in all the interiour and exteriour partes of her bodie: and the places of the soares where the flesh was eaten away & consumed, were restored and filled vp again with new flesh. And all this which here hath bin set down, the foresayd M. Martha declared, and vnder her o [...]he solemnly auouched, before the Magistrates of the sayd Citie of Bruxelles, vpon the xvith day of October 1603. Before whome also M. Peter Paulsonne appeared, who being examined of the premisses, he likewise affirmed vnder his o [...]he▪ that he had the sayd M stresse Martha in hand seuen or eight Moneths continually, to cure her of her disease before specified, and what industrie he had vsed, as wel by blood-letting purging, diet▪ as other waies▪ according to the arte of surgerie: & that he compassed no other thing thereby▪ but to assuage in [Page] some sorte the grief of her great sore, and of the other yssues that were about it, and that somtymes he had shut them vp for a day or twaine, & yet that they afterwards opened again, by reason of the continuall defluxions that descēded thether: which sores yeelded so great & terrible a stench, that often tymes it forced his wyfe to swoune. And that after this M [...]tresse Martha was returned from Montaigu, he hauing hard that she was perfectly cured, was much amazed thereat: & thereupon would needes see & visit hersayd sores, & the places that were annoyed, & foūd that verily all the holes, yssues, and sores were perfectly healed vp▪ & that those parts where the flesh was eaten away & consumed, were filled vp againe with flesh, and made aequal, and that onely certaine spottes and scarres remained afterwards. The which the sayd M. Peter Paulsonne (cōsidering the greatnes of the sore, together with the multitude of the running issues & their sudaine cure) thought could neuer naturaly or by any humaine meanes be brought to [...]a [...], but onely by the allmighty hand of God. All which may be seen by the attestation of thesayd [Page] Magistrats, sealed with the seale of the sayd Citie of Bruxelles, & and subsigned P. Numan Secretarie.

An Admirable cure of a person betwitched,In Sept. 160 [...]. and sore grieued with the bloodie fl [...]xe,

MAgdalē Pre [...]dh [...]mme widow of Baudec [...]on Alart, beeing about the age of threescore yeares, dwelling in the Citie of Bruxelles, by trade a seller of old garments, went together with her daughter at the tyme of haruest in the yeare 1593. to a certaine village neer to Louaine called Be [...]them, to reap corn, for that she vnderstood that some profit was there to be made: and hereupon she there fel to trauaile amongst diuers others. At which tyme it happened that a certain husbādman dwelling in that village▪ desired her to haue an eye that none took any of his corn, which he had lying vpon a peece of land thereby. But she hauing perceiued that a womā of that village was so hardy as to take some of his corne, this Magdalen aduertised him thereof: who going to the womans hows took away his corn [Page] thence by force, and in spyte of her brought it home to his own hows, although she was meruelousely āgry there with. The next day they beeing met againe in the field, this woman rebuked the sayd Magdalen for that she had accus [...]d her, saying that she would pay her home for it. At night she returned to the Vilage, and lodged neer to the hows of the foresayd woman, who came and presented her with a trencher ful of fryed Romaine beanes, saying that she had bin [...] in a great coller with her, for that she had accused her, but it▪ was now past and gone, & that she made no account thereof: and although this Magdalen had no great appetit to her beanes, yet she receaued them, and did eate some f [...]w of them, and that night she [...]e [...] a certain grudge of an ag [...], but that withheld her not from going the next day to l [...]bour in the field, as she was wount to do before: where after she had been for some short tyme, she was taken with a very great ache in her head, and she began so to whirle about her bodie, as yf she had bin out of her wittes: in such sorte, that at night of force she must be conducted to [Page] the vilage, by the assistāce of an other wo man, where she was suddainly takē with a vehement & welnigh continual flux: which when the inhabitants of the vilage had vnderstood, they rebuked this Magdalen for lodging so neere the sayd woman, for so much as she was reported to be a witch: wherof this Magdalen was not a little aston shed, & seeing that she was not able to woork any longer, by reason of the grieuousenes of her disease, she returned the next day faire and softly towards Bruxelles, where she indured continually her sayd maladie: notwithstanding hauing a good hope that [...]t would not long continue, she placed her self in the hows of one of her acquaintance called Simon, dwelling neere to the place of the Sablon in Bruxelles, there to haue care of his hows. But when th [...] flux would not cease, she was cōstrained to depart from thence: which also in like māner happened vnto her in diuers other howses where she hyred her logings to dwel in, & much a doe she had to fynd any harbour, because euery one abhorred to admitt so fl [...]hie a creature into their howses, for that her disease continued [Page] long tyme without any intermission, although she had vsed many remedies, both by the aduise of a certaine Doctor of Phisick, as also of an other expert surgeon, who was also very wel seen in Physick, besides the counsells of very many other particuler persons, who had administred vnto her diuers medicines, but all was in vaine and to no purpose. She hauing now sustained this for diuers yeares, hauing euery night and day ordinarily thirtie or fortie stooles, she became exceedingly weake and feeble, not knowing what coūsel to take wherby to help her self: wel at last she remembring that the woman of Berthem which had giuen her the beanes was held for a witch, she therfore purposed to goe vnto her, that she might take away from her the inchauntment (a thing wherein many now a dayes very easily permitt them selues to be abused) but it was told her by those of the village, that not long after the same woman went from thence▪ and that some had vnderstood that she was afterward by order of iustice executed for sorcerie. Afterwards it was repor ted, vnto this Magdalen that neere vnto [Page] the town of Hall in Henault there dwelled a certain man which took vpon him to help those that were be witched: wher vpon she went thither somtymes on foot, somtymes being caried, but he hauing visited & examined her, told her that her grief was incurable, and that she should continue in this sorte all the rest of her lyfe: counseling her notwithstanding to make some offering to our Ladie at Hall and to wash her legges for some nyne dayes with Aqua vitae, the which she did, without any ayd or help thereby, her sayd flux induring stil night & day as before: whereby she became oftentymes so sick, that she was forced to go with crutches, & sometymes in her hows she crept vpō all fower, and for a yeares space she voyded in her stooles cleer blood. At length she was aduised to seek vnto a cer tain woman dwelling in Bruxelles, neer vnto the Court, who was skilful in administering certaine herbes against sorcerie. Who going and declaring vnto her her necessitie, the sayd womā gaue her to drink certain spoonfulles of wyne, with certaine stamped herbes, and with this she returning to her lodging, and coming [Page] heer to the Cloister of the Capuchines, where she dwelt at that tyme, she felt her self very ill and (be it spoken with reuerence) she cast forth by way of vomiting eight little beastes, like vnto myce new littered, hauing tailes & very litle hair on their backs, & beeing alyue. And a day or two after she took againe of the former herbes, but then she voyded nothing at all. Hauing at the third tyme receiued again the foresaid drinck, she cast out two little beastes like vnto fishes which liue in the water and are called millers thūbes & withall three or fower thinges lyke other fishes, and finally a great worme lyke a litle snake. After she was deliuered of this filth, she found her self a little eased about her hart, but her flux neuer ceased either by night or by day so that (be it spoken with reuerence) she voided her meat euen in such sort as she did eat it, without any disgestion thereof at all: and so soon as she had eaten or drunk any thing were it neuer so little▪ she was incontinently forced by siege to voyd it. In such wise, that she was constrained to swathe her self as women are wount to do their [Page] little children, that she might gayn her liuing by working in the houses of some of her acquaintance, because the former passion neuer ceased or stayed. And thus she cōtinued with the sayd flux three or fower yeares after she had cast out of her bodie those things before mentioned, without applying any other remedie, for wel she found that she could not any wayes be cured. At the last, in the yeare 1603. after this flux had continued welnigh ten yeares, she was aduised by some of her frendes to make a pilgrimage to our Ladie at Montaigu, in hope that there peraduenture she might recouer her health, seeing that many others were at the same place miraculously cured. The which she determined to do. But hauing vnderstood that the wyfe of Gerard Monck trumpetour to the most gracious Arc [...]duke Albertus and the sayd Gerards sister (who were of her acquaintance) intended to go thither, she resolued to stay til they were returned home againe, that she might the better vnderstand by them the manner of the way and diuers other circūstances. They be [...]ing returned this Magdalen wēt foorth with to see [Page] them, and whereas the trumpeters sister had brought home with her some of the wood of the oake, in the which in tymes past the Image of our Ladie was placed, she gaue her a little piece thereof; counseling her to put it in water, and to drinck it in honor of our Ladie, & there withall to put her confidence in God. But Magdalen taking the wood, went pre sently to the Church called the Chappel of our Ladie, which was not far from thence, and these putting her self vpon he knees before the altar of the Virgin Marie, she began to gnaw and eat the foresayd piece of wood, deuoutely beseeching the Mother of God that she would obtaine for her her health, and so soon as she had swallowed it, she found her self much eased, feeling in her bodie a certaine heauie grosse matter to descend from her stomack down to the left syde of her belly. In that Church she continued in prayer till she had heard one masse, and a part of an other, at which tyme she perceiued that her former passion ceased, beeing neuer after troubled with her accustomed flux, but onely that she felt the thing that sunck down into [Page] her belly to be hard, and as great as the two fistes of a mā, whereby beeing very much comforted, she went too [...]h to aduertis the trompeter wy [...]e he [...]of, declaring vnto her how she [...]e [...]hers [...]f abettered. And herevpon a day or [...]o after she made her self redie to g [...] Pilgrimage to Montaigue, together with Derick vander Sc [...]urē burges of thesare C [...]e of Bruxels, with his wyfe, & a yong mayd, and with Benedicta Henarick wy [...]e vnto Hughe Noisei: and thus departing together from Bruxelles, vpon the eue of S Mat [...]ew in Septembre, in the foresayd yeare [...] 3. they went and lodged that night at [...] nain, the sayd Magdalen feeling nothing of her former passion: and the next day they wēt forwards all on foot to [...], and the more she went the better she [...]lt her self: but beeing now come n [...] t [...]e moūtayne, at a place where the g [...] á death, Magdalen began to feel such v [...]h [...]mēt grypings in her belly, as though she [...]d byn in the trauaile of chyldbirth, in s [...]ch sorte that she was constrained to stay behynd▪ letting the others goe on, and no bodie remayning with her but her own daughter, and the wyfe of the afores [...]d [Page] Derick, and through the vehemencie of the paine holding vp her self with her hands against a tree, she was deliuered as it were by way of chyldbirth of a skinne or bladder as great as an ordinarie pynt pott, and it passed from her with a kynd of noyse or soūd: the which bladder was full of filthy matter, mixt with yelow, green, blew, and black, as they beheld it, thrusting and breaking it with their feet and staues, where wi [...]h they trauailed. After that she was deliuered of this burthen, she felt her self mcontinently much cased and comforted, inso much that she ran after the rest of her companie, who were now gone a good way before. They beeing all now come to the chappel of our Ladie, they prayed there a good whyle, and after they had ended their deuotions, they returned theself same day on foot, & came to a place which was but one half myle distant from Louain: insomuch as the sayd Magdalen had gon some tenne duitch myles that day, without any paine or hindrance at all by her former flux: and the next day returned to Bruxelles, where euer sithens she hath continued in as [Page] good health and disposit on of her bodie as euer she was in all he [...] lyfe, and so she is euen at this present. And all th [...]s she hath affirmed vnder her solemne othe (beeing diligently examined thereof) before the Magistrates of the aforesayd citie of Bruxelles on the [...]yght of April 1604. and vpō the twelfth of the same moneth the aforesayd Derick vander Schuren and his wyfe made their appearance before thesayd magistrates, who in like manner vnder their oathes declared and testined, that some nyne or ten yeares before they knew the sayd Magdalen, and that they alwayes held and esteemed her, and haue hard that others also haue reputed her for an honest woman, and one worthie to be credited: and that in the tyme of her former maladie she had often complayned vnto them that she was bewitched, and that she had cast vp the myce and little fishes, and other such trash as before hath been declared. Moreouer they sayd, that they knew how for some eight or ten yeares she was continually aflicted with the flux: during which tyme they had seen her often tymes very sick & weak, & that the cullour of herface [Page] was verie yellow & vgly to behold. And the wyf of this Derick declared that this Magdalen had made the voyage to our Ladies at Montaigu in her companie, in the cōpanie of her husband, & others before mentioned, and she wel remembred, that at such tyme as they aproched neere the Mountaine about the place where the gibet st [...]ndeth, she complained of a paine which she felt in her belly, and that she voyded in the same place a certaine thing which she would haue shewed vnto her gossip, but she regarded it nothing, saying that it was some ordure not worth the looking on, and so going towards the Mountaine, she wel perceiued that after she had been discharged of the foresayd filth she walked on very merrilie, and seemed more strong and in better disposition of her bodie, then before: returning on foot the same day that they departed from Louaine, to a place with-in half a myle of the-same Citie: & that euer since she hath remained in very good health. All which is to be seen by a publick act made thereof vnder the seale of the sayd Citie, of Bruxels, and subsigned P. Numan.

[Page]

Of a lame man that was cured.

Iohn Gyles dwelling at Myanoie, in theIn Sept. [...]. countie of Namures, beeing about threscore yeares of age, wa [...] suddenly taken with a great maladie in the moneth of May 1602. wherewith he became so impotent that he could moue neither his armes nor legges, feet nor handes: and continued thus keeping his bed for the space of three mon [...]ths and an half: but afterwards beeing somwhat recouered, he went a whole yeare (though with great difficultie) vpon crutches. In which tyme he hard talke of the miracles which were donne at Montaigu: whereupon he was mooued to make a vow to goe thither, and there to visit our Ladie, and to pray for his health: after which vow thus made, he began to feel more strength inThe feast of this Sainct is vp [...] the fi [...]st d [...]y of October. his legs & armes then before. And about the feast of. S. Remigius in the yeare 1603. he went to Montaigu, whether when he was come, hauing ha [...]d a masse in our Ladies Chappel, and finished his other deuotions, he found his legges & armes [Page] perfectly cured, and all his bodie in so good disposition and order that there he left his cr [...]rches, and returned whole to his own hows without any ayd or help, neuer feeling after that tyme any grief: in so much as at this present he is able to goe six or seuen dui [...]che myles euerie day. All which the sayd Iohn Gyles affirmed & auouched on the xvjth. of Iune in the yeare 1604. in the presence of C. Re [...]y Notarie resident at Namures, and Maister Gyles B [...]s [...] chanon and Archpriest of Namu [...]es, and M. Iohn G [...]soulle witnesses, according to an instrument compiled thereof, dated and signed as aboue.

How a Religious woman that was two and fortie yeares lame was cured.

MAistris Catharin Tserraerts daughterIn Oct. 160 [...]. vnto Sir Anthony Tserraerts, Lord of Hadoght, and of the Ladie Anne de Ba [...]le [...] court his wyfe, now Professed amongst the Religious women in the monasterie of the white Ladies in Louain, was lame of her left leg euen from her infancie: the which leg was fiue or six inches or an [Page] hand-bredth shorter then the other: her [...]uklebone was not in the right place but rather towardes her back, and made there such a buntch that one might wel perceiue it through her clothes, the knee of that leg was crooked and pr [...]ssed inwardly against her right th [...]ghe, in so much that she could not separate the one leg from the other: moreouer in regard of the shortnes of the sayd left leg she was constrained to weare a panto [...]e or shooe vnderlayd vnder the heele with corck some [...]iue or six inches h [...]ghe, and for all this it came not to the ground, but she went still vpon her toes, as one might easilie perceiue by the vpper lether of her shooe that was ful of wrinckles. And of this all her kinsfolkes and frendes can beare witnesse, who haue seen her in this sorte, as also Iames Ma [...]ck Sho [...]maker, who fitted her with shooes. Yea fur [...]her more all the Religious of the foresayd conuent of the white Ladies amongst whome shee was professed ful seuenteen yeares, as she also was scholler amongst them, when shee was but eight yeares old. To help this accident her paren [...]es laboured and spent much, whyle she was in her [Page] tender age, in so much as they made her we are [...]o▪ a long tyme together vpon her fl [...] a pe [...]ce of armour couered with c [...]oth or [...]ā [...]asse, that by this meane they migh [...] make her hanche returne into the proper place which grew backwards as hath [...]n sayd, and this they did while s [...]e dwelled in the hows of M Maximili [...] [...] [...]quyre, and Burgomaister of the Citie o [...] B [...]xell [...]s: vnto which place her parents caused a certaine famous surgeon to come from Hare [...]tales, who indeuo [...]red to help her, and by stret [...]hing out her bodie with certaine kynd of instruments made for that purpose, thought to put her ioynts in their right places. But when they saw that this profited her nothing▪ they permitted her to go [...] for diuers yeares without any shooe vnder-layd, or without any other help, h [...]ing that in tyme by forceing herself to goe, and by setting all her whole foot on the ground, her left leg would be str [...]tched foo [...]h longer, and become equa [...]l to the other. But this did no more he [...]p her then the former remedies, for this [...]a [...]ari [...] remained lame, and in thesame case as she was before▪ Hauing afterwards [Page] a desire to imploy her self in the seruice of God in some order of Religion, and beeing for this end presented by her parents to certaine Religious womē of the whyt ladies, in the town of H [...]y in the cuntrie of [...]ege, they refused to admit her, for that they saw her so lame, which also happened vnto her at the Cloister of Cortenberge as the Ladie Magdalen de Ni [...]elle Abbesse of the same place cōfessed, when she afterwards hard talke of the sayd Mistris Catharin. Notwithstanding all this, some yeares afterwards she perseuering in this her good purpose became religious in the foresayd conuent of the white Ladies in L [...]in on the xv. of October in the yeare 1585, where she first liued whilest she was but a little one as before hath been sayd. Hauing now been in this Cloister for the space of xvij. yeares, and stil so l [...]me that she could not goe one foot, no [...] stad vpright, no [...] yet so much as step out of her bed without her shooe that was vnderlayd, (which she was cōstrayned to vse againe a good whyle before) and this her accident was very paineful vnto her, especially when she was to stand for any [...]ōg [Page] space in the quier, and she could neuer kneel but onely on her right knee, as all the Religious there did auouche: & that ordinarilie they were forced to put a step or p [...]ece of wood vnder her left knee to make it aequal with the other. But hauing hard talk of the great miracles which our Lord wrought by the inuocation of his holy Mother at Montaigu, vnto which place all the world went in pilgrimage, and many receiued help and ayd in their infirmities and necessities, she also began to haue a desyre to go thither, and to proue yf peraduenture it pleased God to heale and cure her: but she could not obtaine leaue of her superiour, who thought it no way exped ent for her. Notwithstanding she continued in her former deuotion, hoping (that if she should not be cured of her halting) she should at leastwyse obtaine some spiritual profit for the saluation of her soule: and hereupon she ceased not now and then to renew her sute, and to request her leaue that she might make the sayd voyage, & namely she intreated the Reuerēd Father in God M. Iames Iansoni [...]s Doctor of diuinitie and Superior or Superintendent [Page] of that Cloister, who [...]iking not the s [...]d Re [...]ig [...]ous womans request, ende [...]oured to persuade her to ho [...]d her self content, and to beare patiently for the loue of God this her infirmitie, and that this would be a cause of her greater humilitie & more merit. Vpon which reason she remayned quiet and contented. But whereas the Prince Marquis of Hauregh was come to Louain vpō the xxvijth. of September in the yeare 1603. and intended to goe to salute our Ladie at Mōtaigu this mayd Mistris Catharin [...]ser [...]a [...]rtes laboured so much by the intercession of some of her frendes that the sayd Lord Marques obtained her licence of the sayd Iansonius, that she might goe & performe her desired deuotion in the aforesayd Mountaine, and hereupon Mistris Anne de wamel procuratrix of the sayd Conuent was appointed to accompanie her, with whome and with some other Pilgrimes she departed from Louain by waggon towardes our Ladies, and they arryued there vpon the xxviijth. of the sayd moneth of September, and vpon the xxixth in the morning she did her deuotions in the chappel, whether also the sayd Lord Marquis [Page] came from Diest, where he had lodged that night, and he intreated the sayd two Religious women to goe vnto Diest with him, which they did, and there were lodged in the Cloister called Mariendale and two dayes after (to witt vpon the tuisday and weddensday) they returned againe in companie of the sayd Lord Marquis to do their deuotions at Montaigu, the sayd Lord beeing in coache, by reason of his indisposition, and the Religious with him in regard also of her accident, but all the rest of his houshold and companie went on foot, with their prayers and spiritual songs, and other such lyke deuises inciting to deuotion. Some of this companie and amongst others the sayd Religious put themselues in the state of grace, & receiued the holy Communion in our Ladies chappel, and did other their particuler deuotions. Vpō weddensday in the morning whylst the holy seruice of the masse was saying in Montaigu, the sayd Mistris Catharin began to feel a certaine paine neer vnto her left eare, the which begā to passe through all her bodie euen from her head down to her lame leg, but shee knowing not [Page] what this should meane, nor yet much regarding it, she made her prayers to our Lord, more for the good of the Cuntrie, and the weale of her soule, then for the healing of her leg, except it pleased God to increase his glorie thereby. And on the same weddensday (beeing the first of October in the foresayd yeare 1603) she returned to Louain in the companie o [...] thesayd Lord M [...]rquis and beeing entred the Conuent (for it was now late) hauing giuen the good-night to her superiour she retyred herself to her chamber there to repose her: but as she went vp the stayres, she felt that her shooe which was vnderlayd did so hinder her that she could not wel go therewith▪ in such sorte that beeing in her chamber, shee put it of her foot, and withall she perceiued that without any help of her shooe she was able to stād vp [...]ight vpō her legs, and to walk along her chamber, feeling a marckable stretching and plucking within her hip, and throughout all her left leg: whereat she beeing much amazed, and praysing God for this his fauor and the Glorious Virgin who had prayed for her health (as she now felt [Page] by her own experience) she settled her self to her prayers, intending to perseuer therein all that night: but beeing somwhat weary, both through her iorney as also for that sleep came vpon her, after she had sayd some deuotions she betook her self to her rest. Vpon the next morning rysing out of her bed, she found her self so wel, and in such sorte altered, that she needed no longer her shooe that was vnderlayd, but walked vp-right in the Conuent onely with a paire of pantofles, fynding no more difficultie in setting both her feet on the groūd, the aforesayd stretching from her hip vnto her leg stil continuing not-withstanding that at that tyme the bunche of the sayd hip (which was behynd her and out of the right place) was very much lower and lessened.

The Lord Marquis beeing aduertised of this miracle, sent some of his howshold and diuers others who had gone with her on this voyage to visit her, who al found this admirable change in her person, seeing her now vpon the second of Octo [...]er to walk with much ease, without any high shooe or other supporte. [Page] Whereupō the sayd Lor [...] Marquis (being meruelousely glad of the gr [...]ce which our lord had wrought in this Religious) obtained leaue to car [...]ie her with him to Bruxelles, there to shew her to the most gracious Infante of Spai [...]ne D [...]ches of Bra [...]ant our Princesse: which soon after he perfourmed; hauing moreouer causedThis blessed [...]cr [...] ment is myraculous as vvel for the▪ [...]an [...]er thereof, as for the mir [...]cles it vvo [...] k [...]h of [...]hich miracle a Ch [...]n [...] of that Church▪ ha [...]h latel [...] publi [...]hed [...] book. a solemn Masse to be sung before the holy Sacrament of miracle in the sayd Citie of Br [...]xeles, in way of thanks-giuing for this so notable a benefit. At which tyme her leg much n [...]ēded, waxed greater, & increaced in strength: insomuch as the bunch before mētio [...]ed became a [...]together euē & equal, her leg turned right, & her heel stretched to the due proportion, in su [...]h sorte that she could walk without any le [...]t, or stand vpr [...]ght, or seperate her legs as she thought good, and set her self down equally vpon both her knees, the which she was neuer able to do in two and forty yeares that is, in all her lyfe before: as the sayd Religious womā (who was euer reported to haue beē a v [...]rtuous ma [...]d, and o [...]e that [...]a [...]ed God) declared all these particularities to diuers persons, as well gentlew [...]omen [Page] [...] others, which had beē with her at this voyage, & there kept her companie, who hard it frō her own mouth. And whereas the Lord Mat [...]ias Hou [...]s Archbishop of M [...]i [...] was at that tyme in Bruxelles, & had known the sayd religious from her youth, and had often seen her lame, h [...] caused her to come before him vpon the fourth of October, that he might vnderstād the manner of this alteration euen from her own mouth: and then in his presence and vpon her profession she declared in substance all that which we haue alredy sayd: and at that very tyme that she was before the sayd Lord Archbishop, she felt her leg to stretch and pull with a forcible interiour working: walking in a chāber in his presence with out any shooe that was vnderlayd, & setting both her heeles equally vpon the ground, as appeareth by her deposition, written by the hand of the sayd Lord Archbishop, & subscribed by her self. And for more assurance of all this, the aforesayd Doctor Ia [...]s [...]us caused all the religious women of the Con [...]ent of the whyte Dames in Lo [...]ine to be assēbled together vpon the [...]Vth of October, in the foresayd yeare 1603 & examined [Page] pūctually the sayd mistri [...] Cathar [...] [...]ts in their presence, touching the [...]ing of her leg, vnto whome she answered the very self same that we haue here set down: all the sayd religious women a [...]ouching that they had seen her [...]me as we haue sayd, all the tyme that [...]he had dwelled in their Conuent, & she now walked without any vnderlayd shooe, and that far better then euer she did, as she thē shewed very effectually, walking in their presence along th [...] chā ber, vpon shooes of aequal height, & not [...]nderlayd, so that none can see that she any wayes bendeth her bodie by halting [...]owards the left leg (as before she was [...]oun [...] to doe) although as she her self declared, she feeleth so [...]tymes the aforesayd operation and inward moouing, & that very liuely, as appeareth by the attestation of the sayd Ia [...]so [...]i [...]s, bearing date as aboue.

How a mayd was cured of an incurable accident.

MAgdal [...] [...] Horen a mayd of one & fiftie yeares old, dwelling at Br [...]xelles; [Page] in the yeare 1600. vpon a certaine day by stretching her bodie so ouer strained her self, that she was inwardly hurt very grieuously, and there hanged out of her bodie a peece of flesh as big (so farr as she could iudge it) as ones fist, in such sorte that she was constrained to we are a trusse or band made purposely to ho [...]d i [...] in. Together with this she had a vehemēt continuall paine, which sometymes so afflicted her, that she could scarce goe, or so much as sit. Physitions call this kynd of euil Prociden [...]ia vt [...]r [...] and they esteeme it incu [...]able, or at least-wyse yery hard to be cu [...]ed. Thi she endured about some three yeares, vntil the moneth of October in the yeare 1603. But as people spake much of the miracles which were wrought at Montaigu by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marie, she was moued thereby to goe thither, in hope and confidence that the blessed Mother of God would pray for her: & so she went by wagon to Montaigu in the forsayd moneth of October, in the cōpanie of Mistris Agatha Reygers with whome she sometymes dwelled with Mistris Margares de Morade Mistris Ioane Iacops & some others▪ [Page] and beeing come to the sayd mountaine not without great paine, that night they did in the same place their deuotions, and hauing lodged afterwards in Sichen, the next morning they went on foot to the Chappel of out Ladie, where again they prayed, hard masse, & comunicated, at which very tyme the sayd Magdalen receaued so great ease and amendment, that she found her self deliuered of her old paines and griefes, & altogether altered, in somuch as beeing returned to Bruxelles she could goe and walk whether soeuer she pleased without any impediment or grief, and without any band or trusse, feeling the sayd peece of flesh to be wholy retired within her bodie. Vpon the xviijth^ of Nouēber in the same yeare 1603 she went again vnto Montaigu, with an other companie, there to render thancks to God and his holy mother, and offered vp there one of her bands which she was accustomed to weare, and although in this last iorney shee had gon fiue duitche myles on foot, yet for all that she felt no paine or appearance of her former grief, beeing whole & sound as shee is at this present. All the aforesayd things this [Page] Magdalen declared and auouched solēnly vnder her othe, before the Magistrates of Bruxelles vpon the nyne and twentith of March in the yeare 1604. Vpon which day the foresayd Mistris Agatha Reygers and Mistris Margarit de Merode making also their appearance before the sayd Magistrates, declared and affirmed that they knew very wel that this Magdalen had indured this accidēt for three yeares space, or there about, & how that after she had made the first voyage to Montaigu she remained perfectly whole, & in good disposition of her bodie, which wel they might perceiue and know, forsomuch as the sayd Magdalen came often to their howses, because she had been seruant vnto Mistris Agatha, as hath been sayd. And vpō the seuenth of April following, Anne vā Suick Beghine dwelling in Bruxelles, and there for xxv. yeares practising the arte of surgerie appeared before thesayd magistrates, who vnder the like othe, declared and assured that she had in cure this Magdalen, but she could not help her: shewing moreouer how at the same tyme (through the assistance of God) she had healed many wounderful diseases [Page] and accidents, but she held that (which this Magdalen had) hardly euer to be cured by any naturall meanes or work of man. And al this that hath been sayd, is to be seen by an instrument and Act which passed before the Magistrates of Bruxelles as wel vpon the foresayd nyne & twētith of March, as vpon the seuenth of April 1604, subscribed P. Numan Secretarie, and signed with the seale of the sayd Citie.

How a certaine man was cured of the falling euill.

HEnry de Keersmakers a baker and citizenIn the end of Iulie, [...]t begin ning of August 1603 of Louain was attainted with the falling sicknes, which he had indured about 4 yeares. It took him both in his hows, as also in the Churches & streets to his great confusion and callamitie. But vnderstanding of the miracles which were donne at Mōtaigu by the intercessiō of our Ladie, he resolued about the feast of S. Iohn in the yeare 1603. to go thither in Pilgrimage, with confidence that the Mother of God would assist him, & that she would obtaine that his disease might [Page] be holpen. About which tyme setting forwards barefoot on his way he did his deuotions at the Chappel of our Ladie, & the next day returning towards Louain he feit himself somwhat eased, and to haue reco [...]ered more strength then before, as he told them that were in his cō pagnie, with this amendment he continued for eight dayes without feeling his accustomed disease, but onely some signes thereof, and a litle stretching of his limmes. Eight dayes after he went thither again barefoot, and hauing made his prayers to our Ladie as before, & beeing come home he foūd himself very free frō his former passion. Whereupon eight dayes after he returned thither again the third tyme also barefoot, in company of some fower or fyue others, amongst whome were two Religious men, Cordeliers of the sayd Citie of Louain, but beeing come within two myles of thesayd Mon [...]a [...]g [...] he was taken again with a fit of his old disease, & that for the space of half an hower, but returning to him self, and beeing holpen by the sayd Religious men, he was for some parte of the way led to the Chappel of our Ladie, [Page] where that euening he did his deuotions, & remained for that night in the Mountayn. The next day he returned again to his prayers in the Chappel, whether the foresayd Religious men (who had lodged in a Cloister of Cord [...]li [...]rs in▪ Diest) also came, and one of them sayd masse, beseeching our Ladie for the health of this poor patient: and after the office was ended, he returned with some others towards Louain very merry and pleasant, without any wearines in his trauaile, to the great wounderment of all those that were in his cōpanie. And after this third visitation which was now more then a yeare since, he was neuer taken or troubled with his maladie, but he is become more healthy and in better disposition of his bodie, the neuer he was before, acknowledging that herein he hath receiued a singuler benefit and fauour of the Mother of God. And since his c [...]re he hath been fower other tymes barefoot at M [...]aigu, there to render thancks to our Lord and to the blessed Virgin.

And [...]l [...] this that hath here been sayd this Henry de Ke [...]r s [...]aker hath deposed and af [...]med vnder his solemn othe, before the [Page] Magistrates of the Citie of Louain vpon the xxlijth. of October 1604. Vpon which day appeared also M Laures Bo [...]s [...]m procurator, and Lewis vanden Vyuere grocer, both Burgeses and inhabitants of the same Citie, who vnder the like othe affirmed and testified, that they had often frequented and kept companie with theforesayd Henry, (and especially this Lewis who had dwelled some fower or fiue yeares in a hows iust ouer against his) and thereby they knew very wel that some yeares sithens this Henry was much troubled with the falling sicknes, which took him sometymes sitting at table with thē, sometymes in the Cloister of the Iacobius, yea and sometymes in the very street as he went with them to gather almes for the sayd Religious Iacobius, in somuch that to auoyd peril & confusion, this office was taken from him. And how that after he had made the Pilgrimages to Mantaigu as hath been sayd, they neither saw or hard that for the space of a whole yeare he was euer taken with the sayd disease: wherat they thēselues much merueiled, seeing him so wel and in so good health, as he was at that present. All [Page] which is manifest by the attestation of the sayd Magistrates, made thereof and dated as aboue, and sealed with the seale of Louain signed R. le Prince Secretarie.

A miraculous cure of a certayn grief and languishing disease.

SIster Anne Laureys beeing threescore yeares old or there about, born in Bruxelles, and professed in the Conuent of the Religious women called of the Annunciatae in Louain. In the yeare 1584. why lest she sung in the quier with some other of her religious sisters who had very strong voices, and sung very high, forcing her voice to follow them in singing, felt that she had hurt and indamaged her head, hauing a paine therein so vehement and strong, that it seemed vnto her as yf her head had been cleft in twayn: which paine dayly increaced: and besides she felt in her head a noyse & continuall sounding like a clock, which she indured for a long space, vntil the xxvjth of October in anno 1603. and so for the space of xviij. yeares: so that no day [Page] passed without great grief and paine, and for the most parte she was constr [...]n [...]d to absent her self from th [...] diuine seruice and office with the other Religious, because she could not indure to heare them sing, no nor somuch as any words that might be spoken alowd, & when those of the Conuent had their recreation, she was forced to get her self out of the companie, because she might not be troubled with their voices, and ordinarily euery night it was very long ere she could sett [...] her self to sleep. To cure this grief the had vsed the counsells of many persons, and many remedies, without any profit at all. Finally hauing vnderstood of the miracles that were wrought at Montaigu by inuocar [...]ng vpon our Ladie, she turned her self with all her hart vnto her, hoping that by her intercessiō she might obtain help. And for so much as the Religious women of that Conuent (acording to their rule) neuer go out of their Monasterie, they reedified an old Chappel which was in their garden, and they placed therein an Image printed acording to that of Montaigu, to the end in that place they might exercise their deuotions, [Page] and doe honor to the Mother of God because it was not lawful for them to goe vnto Montaigu. Vnto this Chappel the sayd [...]ster Anne went vpon three sundry dayes, instantly beseeching the Virgin Marte to procure her her health, with intention that she her self would haue gon to the miraculous place, yf it had been lawful. And vpon the third day (beeing the xxvith of October 1603.) betwixt fiue and six of the clock at night, hauing ended her third Visitation, she felt her self much eased, and withall to be much in wardly cōforted: and after compline hauing retired herself into her chā ber, she rested that night very wel, not hearing any noyse or sounding in her head, and waking about eleuen of the clock the same night, she found herself so wel and healthie, and so free from her maladie, that she went with the rest of the Religious to matines: and so continuing better and better, she neuer after felt any paine or trouble in her head, but inioyed her perfet and intier health. All which here is sayd may be seen by the attestation of sister Clare Leyen her Superiour, Sister Anne S [...]its the vicaresse of the [Page] sayd Conuent, and by the othe of the sayd Sister Anne Laureys, made in the hands of the Reuerend Father Anthonie de Berga [...]g [...] Confessor of the sayd Conuent, vpon the xxth. of Ianuarie 1604. and after that again vpon the xvith of March in the same yeare, in the presence of the Magistrate [...] of the sayd citie of Louaine, before whome also her Superiour appeared, who in like manner declared and auouched that she knew right wel how that the sayd Religious had the a foresayd passion and grief so long as hath been sayd, which partlie she had seen & partlie had hard of her self. And all this is conformable to the attestation of the sayd Magistrates, bearing date as aboue, and signed R. le Prince Secretarie, and sealed with the seale of the same Citie.

How a Religious woman of the order of S. Clare was suddenly healed of the palsey.

SIster Anne de Br [...]y [...] daughter of Iohn de Br [...]y [...] [...] Aelst, marchant & inhabitātIn Oct. 1601. of the citie of Antwerp werp, in the street called Ki [...]orp, was professed amongst religious [Page] [...]omē in the Cloister of S. Clare in Antwerp commōly called of the poor Clarisses, in the yeare 1593. she beeing xxii. yeares of age, healthie and sound of al her limmes, going, seruing, & labouring as the rest of the same Conuent: but in the moneth of October in the yeare 1597. she was taken with a great disease, in such sorte that twyce they gaue her the extreme vnctiō and they did the recommēdations of her soule in the quier, as is the custome to doe vnto Religious persons that are in dying. But hauing been somwhat recouered of this disease, she regained somuch strength that she could walk with the ayd of a staf & by holding vp her self against the wall, which continued for some six weekes or there about: but a little after this she was so taken with the palsey, and became so impotent, that she could neither goe, kneel, or stand, and so remayned for the space of six yeares, in the infirmarie of the sayd Conuent, hauing so lost the vse of her limmes, that when any would remoue her, they were constrained either to carry her, or to draw her, sometymes by one of the strongest of the Religious & sometymes by two of thē, [Page] although she did also help her self with her staff. And it hapened sometymes that her hands became so impotent, that they were cōstrained to feed her lyke a chyld and to put her meat into her mouth. In this six yeares space the poor patient vsed diuers sortes of medicines, drincks, chafings, bathes, & other deuises that were thought good against the palsey and impotencie, and this, first by the assistance of M. VVilliam Peters Doctor of Phisick, &c after his death, of M. God [...]rey V [...]yk [...] Phisition of the Citie of A [...]werp, as also of M. Cornelius van Velsen Sutgeon dwelling in the same place, yet neuer felt she any [...]ase remedie or diminution of her euil. In somuch as the sayd Phisition and surgeon iudged her disease to be an ouergrowen & incurable impotencie, so surceasing to apply any other thīg vnto her, as the sayd Doctor and Surgeon a [...]o [...]ched solemnly vnder their othes in the hande [...] of the Reuerend the Vicar and Official of the dioces of Ant [...]erp, vpon the fifth of Nouem [...]er in the year 1603. and vnder th [...] lyke o [...]he before the magistrates of thesame Citie vpon the fourth of December in the same yeare. This Religious woman [Page] therfore beeing destitute of all humain ayd and remedie, setled all her con [...] dence in God: & hauing hard of the great miracles which our Lord dayly wrought by the inuocation of his holy Mother at Montaigu, she began to haue a desire to send some thither to visit our Ladie for her, and to pray for her heal [...]h yf it were expedient for h [...]r soule.

Whereupō she intreated her Superiour Sister Co [...]nelia Gyll [...]s that she would [...]end to Montaigu on [...] or two lay sisters to present her prayers & deuotions to ou [...] Ladie for her, the which thing was graunted her, and so Sister Anne Groel [...]ns and Sister Elizabeth van I [...]me [...]zele were sent th [...] ther, and to them was deliuered the staff wherewith the impotent pati [...]nt w [...]s wount [...]o assist her self, & withal a peece of money to offer there in signe of h [...]r desvre and intention to implore the ayd of the Mother of God: and thus departing from Antwerp together with the Mother of Sister Anne Gro [...]en [...], vp [...]n a thursday beeing the 23th of October in the sayd yeare 1603. and passing by Bruxe [...]les and L [...]n, they arryued at Montaigu vpon Saterday, beeyng the xxvth of the same [Page] [...] [...]: where they, perform [...]d their [...] uotions and prayers for her health, as [...] the sayd Sister An [...]e de Br [...]y [...] they wer [...] willed: which also they continued vpo [...] the Sunday and Moonday following. A [...] which tyme also the Religious of he [...] Conuent at A [...]werp saye some prayers to that end. And vpon the xxvii [...] th. of the▪ same moneth (beeing SS. Symon and [...] day) the sayd Sister A [...]ne awaking so [...] after fower of the clock in the morning and fynding her self in her accustomed impotencie much sorrowed thereat, notwithstanding she resigned herself to the mercie of God, neither was she yet out of hope of the recouery of her health. [...]eeing in these conceites suddenly she had a desy [...]e to ryse out of her bed, and to go [...] to the quier to giue thancks vnto God; and although she felt no strength [...]o her bodie yet notwithstanding she [...]ook a staff which stood hard by her bed indeuou [...]ing therewith to rayse her self, and beeing faire and softly come out of her bed, and standing on her feet, she began to feel some strength in her legs: whereupon leauing her staff, & signing [...]erself with the signe of the crosse, wi [...] [Page] [...] great confi [...] which [...]he had in the [...]orious Virgin Marie she began to walk alone, and beeing come into the midde [...] o [...] her chāber wh [...]ch [...]t that tyme was in the [...]nf [...]marie, she felt a certain [...]ning [...]n her head, in such sorte that she thought she should ha [...]e fallen to the ground▪ but calling vpon the name of God to graūt her fo [...]ce & strength, shee went forward til she came to an other chamber hard by, whe [...]e vpon the great cōfort & ioy w [...]ch then sh [...] conceaued, s [...]e cast her self thryce vpon her knees, to yeeld thancks vnto God, and by little & little beeing come into the quier, she kneeled down before the Blessed Sacram [...]nt, where she prayed & sayd T [...] Deum. From thence she went into the dormitorie, and awaking the Mother Abbesse or Superiour, she told her that she was cured, whereat the Superiour much me [...] [...]ailing commaunded her to goe forthwith to the quier, whether af [...]erwards she came with all her other Relig [...]ou [...] and there veelded thancks to [...] [...] and his holy Mother, beginning [...] the a foresayd song Te Deum, at [...] [...]yme the sayd [...]ister Anne de B [...]uy [...] [...] [Page] & vpryght in her seat as wel as the rest, hauīg also bin but a little before for a lōg tyme on her knees before the Blessed Sacrament, and the altar of our Ladie: which she was neuer able to haue donne for six yeares before. After this the sayd sister Anne walked alone freely, without staffe or other stay throughout all the Monasterie. Vpon the very self same day came to these Clarisses Father Iohn Pell [...]s Cordelier, their Confessor, who found thi [...] sister Anne in good health, and walking without any thing to help or support her, where at he was much amazed, and thācked the Almighty for this his mercie: saying some prayers to the same purpose, and incontinently the same sister Anne came down without any help to the confession seat, to which place she could not goe for seuē yeares before: but either her confessor was forced to goe vnto the infirmarie (where she remained continually) to heare her confessions, or otherwyse they must carrie or draw her to the grate or confession seat. After she had confessed, the sayd Father Iohn Pelle [...]s after masse administred vnto her the blessed Sacramēt of the altar, in way of thanks [Page] giuing: for the receiuing whereof she put her self on her knees without any difficultie, arose, did reuerence, and departed thence, without any to help her: and that so reddely as yf she had neuer been sick. Vpon the XXXth of the same moneth of October the two Religious that were sent to Montaigu returned again to Antwerp, where they found the sayd sister Anne whole and in good health, as she is euen vnto this day, to the great admiration of all those which before had seen her, & especially of the Citizens & inhabitants of Antwerp, who in great number came to the Monasterie to see and vnderstand the mercie which it pleased our Lord to shew to this Religious woman, by the inuocatiō of his holy Mother, thā king and praysing him for the same. And all this which we haue here set down was solemnly examined, auouched, and wittnessed vnder their othes, first before M. Iohn del Rio priest, Archdeacon and Chanon of the Collegial Church of our Ladie in Antwerp, beeing the Vicar general and Official of the Dioces there, and afterward again befor M. Iohn vander E [...]t Escheuin, and M. Dionis vander Neese [...] [Page] Secretarie of the sayd Citie, apointed i [...] commission for this purpose by the Magistrates, according to a resolution and decree of the second of December in the sayd yeare 1603. subsigned I. vanden Kieb [...]o [...], where all was verified vnder the othes of euery one, so farr as might touch them, and according to their knowledge: to witt, by the foresayd sister Cornil a Gy [...] Mother Abbesse of the Cōuent, Brother Iohn Pelle [...]s the Confessor, Brother Anthony de Paut [...]ghen his assistent, sister Agnes Rey [...]s keeper of the infirmatie, who had the care of the sayd sick person for a long tyme: the sayd sister Anne de Bruyn, sister Anne Gro [...]l [...], sister Elizabeth van Immerzele, who went in pilgrimage for her: and M. Godfrey Verreykr [...] physition of the same Citie, M. Cor [...]l [...]s van Velsen, and Iohn Watri [...]x Surgeons, who had assisted this impotent Religion▪ woman during her maladie, and for many yeares had laboured to help & cu [...]e her. In like manner Iohn de Bruyn van Ael [...], Father of the sayd sister Anne, and Mistris Sa [...]a vander Weelde her Mother in law, who had diuers tymes visited and frequented the sayd Religious woman, in the tyme of her infirmitie and palsey, who on [Page] the next day after the feast of SS. Sy [...] & I [...]d, foūd her whole & cured, against all mannes hope: as is manifest by their othes as before hath been specified.

How a Religious woman was cured of the Cancker.

SIster Margarit vāden Perre born in Antwerp In Oct. 1601. and there professed a lay sister in the Cloister of the third order of S. Francis, beeing thirtie yeares old, had the cancker in her brestes, for the space of fower moneths, as diuers Phisitions and Surgeons iudged, who had her in cure: to witt, two men, and two women, and yet she could not fynd any help for all their labor: yea on the cōtrarie her euil waxed dayly greater and wors: in such sorte that all those that visited her sayd plainely that it was incurable, for that the patient had her brestes as hard as a stone, reddish, blewish, and so vgly that it was a grieuous thing to behold them. Her right pap was swoln euen vnto her arme-pit and from thence her grief passed vnto her back, where it seemed that it would haue burst out. Vnder the other pap was a great swel ling, [Page] and out of her nip [...]es issued somtymes a certaine kynd of matter, somtymes verie blood, and so it did somtymes also out of her eares. Thus the poor Religious woman was so full of paine, and in so miserable an estate, that for a whole yeares space before her cure she was not able to doe any manner of woork, neither could shee ly, but was cō strained to sleep sitting, & that with very great paine: and sometymes one of her armes became so stiff that she could not lift it to her head. And to be healed of this accidēt shee repaired to a skilful woman called Magdalen, dwelling in the Brestraet in the sayd Citie of Antwerp: who for the space of some six moneths took in hand to cure her, applying certaine plaisters of herbes vnto her: but whē in steed of helping her she became wors, she left that cunning woman, and vsed a certain plaister which a famous Surgeon dwelling the town of Harentals called M. Peter, had prescribed her, who also helping her nothing thereby, & perceiuing her self to be past all hope to be cured, shee left him also. Afterwards an old Portuguez Surgeō, called Vento Rodriguez counseled her [Page] to make an issue in her arme, to draw out thereby the humor of the canker: but all was in vaine, and to no profit at all. After that again she applyed diuers remedies which some of her neighbours & freinds taught her, but without any further successe. After a certain tyme she permitted that her brestes might be visited by an elderlie mayd, who exercised her self in surgerie called Anne Cammarts, alias A [...]c [...]x: who hauing visited her twice or thryce, and perceiuing that her disease was incurable: she gaue her no other coū sel, but that she should take a purgation twice or thryce euerie yeare: which she tryed for once or twice, but durst not proceed therein, in regard of an other accident which she had, to witt, a rupture, which also she had sustained for the space of viij yeares. At the last she shewed her impediment again to an other cunning woman called Gertrude Munters, who foūd that the canker was not onely in both her breastes, but that it had passed euen vnto her back, where also shee felt a great hardnes: and this woman did nothing els to her but rub her back with a certain kind of ointmēt, which shee could hardly [Page] indure, causing her to apply vnto her breastes certain places of lead, and faire lin [...]en, counseling her furthermore to tamper with no more physick, but to commend all vnto God, for so much as there was no other way to help her. And in this manner this Religious woman was abandoned and forsaken of all humaine help, euerie one foretelling her that visited her that e [...]e long she should come to that miserie that would be most lamentable for any to b [...]hold. In this tyme so vehement and excessiue great were the paines which this Religious woman [...]nd [...]red, that often tymes she consumed whole nightes in teares and lamenting.

But some three moneths after hauing vnderstood that Sister Ann [...]d B [...]urn, the Cla [...]sse was miraculousely cured by the inuocation of our Lady of Montaigu, she turned her self with all her ha [...]t towards our ladie, beseeching the mother or superior of the Conuēt that she might make a voyage to Montaigu, to recommend there her health vnto the Mother of God.

Which was graunted her, vpō the fourth day of Nouember in the yeare 1603: & from [Page] the very tyme that she had obtained her sayd leaue, she began to feel some ease in her self. And vpon the next day she departed frō An [...]werp, together with Sister Marie Clements, gardian of the sick, who had assisted her during the tyme of her maladie. They hauing past by Bruxelles & arriued at Lo [...]ain the patient beeing not able to indure the shoggig of the waggō, went from Louain vnto Montaigu on [...]oot. Whether when they were come, they did their deuotions that very day in the Chappel of our Ladie. The next day (beeing the nynth of the aforesayd moneth) they hard three masse [...], at the first masse the sayd patient was very weake & sick, but hauing receiued the blessed Sacrament of the altar she began to feel in herself a notable ease, as wel in regard of her disease of the cancker as of her rupture, and at the third masse she found herself perfectly whole: for it s [...]emed vnto her that she felt a hād strokīg ouer her & therewith to wype away all her paine. And from that tyme feeling herself perfectly whole, she gaue thancks to God, & to his most holy Mother, leauing in the Chappel the lead and cloathes which she [Page] vsed before. And thus returned with her companie to Antwerp whole and sound. And beeing come home, the sayd sister Marie [...] visited her breasts, & fosid them perfectly cured and in good order: where as before they were so miserable and deformed, that none could behold them without horrour: fynding also that the end of her teat was closed vp, & that there was no hardnes in all her bosome but a very little in her left pap, which within three or fower dayes after was gone and ceased.

So that since, the tyme of this visitation she remained q [...]yre deliuered and free of the c [...]cker, as also of her rupture, which she had indured for eight yeares space, as hath been sayd: and so she settled herself to labour and trauaile [...]gaine with the other Religious in the sayd Cloister, as before she was accustomed. Some dayes after her return she was visited again as wel by the aforesayd An [...]e Cammarts, as also by Gertrude Man [...]ers, both expert in forgerie as we haue sayd, who to their great admiration foūd the sayd Religious intyrely and perfectly cured, as wel in her breasts, as in her arme-pitts & back, [Page] without any apparence or signe of any hardnes, or of any other disease, but that she was whole, and very wel in all her bodie. All this here set down was affirmed and verified by their solemn othes, made in the hands of the aforesayd Vicare of Antwerp, vpon the xxj. of Nouember 1603, and vpon the iiij. of December in the same yeare. The like solemn attestation was made thereof before these commissaries: M. Iohn vander Noot Escheuin, & M. Denis vāder N [...]esen secretarie of the sayd Citie, by these persons here named: to witt, by Sister Ioane de Herde Mother [...]r Superiour of thesavd Conuent, by the fore▪ named Sister Marga [...]t vander Perre, Sister Marie Clemens, mistris or gardian of the infirmarie, Sister Hester de Mompere, & Sister Marie Perez, all Religious women of thesame Conuent: who at sundrie tymes had assisted this Sister Marga [...]t, and had seen her diseases, who also knew her repture, whereof together with her cancker she was healed, as hath binsayd. Also the aforesayd An [...]e Camm [...]erts alias Abacucx & Ge [...]le Man [...]ers affirmed the same vnder their othes: who in tymes past had care of the sayd Religious woman, and had visited [Page] her breasts, both before & after her sayd cure, as is manifest by an instrument framed thereof, and dated as aboue.

The curing of a sore which was sisteen yeares old.

IOane Rut [...] the widow of Io [...]n St [...]obant, in Nou. 1603. of about fiftie yeares of age, dwelli [...]g in the lordship of Campenhout in th [...] Maierdome of the Citie of B [...]xell [...]s. In the year 1589. got an accident in her left leg, vpō the ankle of her soot, whereupon grew a sore or issue as great in compas as ones h [...]nd, and a finger or more in length: wherein she felt such vehemen [...] & continual payne, that she could neither by night or day take any rest: and she was very often fully mynded to haue cutt of that leg, b [...]ing forced for the most part to keep her bed, or to sit in a chair, beeing not able to go in any manner, except it were sometymes with two crutches, or whith a staff, or els creeping on all fower vpon the ground. And although she had applyed diuers remedies, yet could she receine no ease, and her cuil was acounted [Page] incurable. But in the yeare 1603. hauig hard of the miracles which o [...]r Lord did woork by the inuocation of his ho [...]y Mother at Montaigu the sayd Ioane made a vow to go thither in pilgrimage: and whereas through her great paine, debilitie, & weakn [...] she was not able to go, it happened that a certain person mooued with compassion of her estate, carried her in a waggon vnto Montaigu, in the moneth of October in the aforesayd yeare 1603. Where beeing in the Chappel of our Ladie she did there her deuotions, with firme hope and confidence to be cured: and returuing hom [...] caried with her some of the water which is behynd the chappel in the sayd Moūtayne, the which (that it might last the longer) thee mixed with r [...]uer water, and she daylie washed and made cleane her l [...]g there with, whereby incontinently she perceiued a great alte [...]ation and e [...]se in her sore, and without applying any th [...]ng els thereunto it healed vp of it self, and with [...]n few moneths was perfectly whole, in [...]uch sorte that at this present she goeth & walketh lustely whethersoeuer she pleaseth, not feeling any paine or grief▪ beeing now [Page] able to go three or fower duitche myles at a tyme, whereas before (though she might thereby haue gayned all the world) she was not able to go one myle. And in thankfulnes for this benefit, the sayd Ioane went an other tyme in Pilgrimage to Montaigu, within the Octaues of the Assu [...]p [...]ion of our Ladie, in this yeare 1604. and this she performed on foot, and went thither on one daye, and returned on the next, without any impedimēt by her former accident. As the sayd Ioane declared & auouched all these thīgs vnder her othe, solemnly giuen before the chief Maier and Escheuines of the sayd Lordship of Campenh [...]ut, vpon the nynteenth of October in the sayd yeare 1604, according to their attestation giuen thereof, & sealed with the seale of the sayd Lordship, and subsigned R. Hermans Secretarie.

How a Chyld beeing broken was cured.

FRancis Addiers of fower yeares and anIr Nou. 1603. half old, the sonne of Francis Addiers, & of Annevandē VVinckele his wyfe dwelling in Bruxelles, was broken on the left syde of [Page] his bellie, & this hapned him when he was but six weekes old, so that from that tyme they made him weare a trusse, because the sayd rupture appeared of the bignes of a turkeys egge, & neuer kept in, but whē they put on his trusse: & oftē tymes it was seen in his secret partes, whereby he indured great pain, especially twise or thrise euery moneth at the change of the moone. And although his mother had applied diuers medicines both by the aduise of some surgeons as of others, yet she nothing preuailed.

But hauing heard the fame of Montaigu, & of the miracles that were there wrought by the in [...]ocation of our Ladie, she resolued to carrie thither her chyld, and there to pray vnto our Ladie for his health, which she performed about the middest of October, in the yeare 1603, & remained there for three dayes, praying daylie in the sayd Chappel: & after the third day she perceiued that her chylds disease was much amended. Whereupon shee left there his trusse in memorie thereof: and beeing come home shee perceiued that his rupture appeared again but after that tyme her [Page] chyld was perfectly cured, so that since the sayd pilgrimage he neuer needed either tr [...]sse or any other remedy, beeing much altered in his bodie, so that he became fatter & stronger, going, running, & playing, as other children of his age are woūt to do, not feeling any paine or impedimēt by the sayd drupture: which things his mother solēnly affirmed vnder her othe, in the presence of the Magistrates of Bruxelles, vpon the eleuenth of December, in the sayd yeare 1603. Vpon which day also Arnold Addiers vnder burgemaister of the sayd citie declared and affirmed vnder the like othe before the said M [...]gistrates, that he had seen the sayd chyld thus broken, when he was but six weeks old, as hath been sayd: and that he had made inquirie after all sortes of remedies to cure him, yf it had been possible, and yet nothing would help, so that the surgeons were of opinion that the chyld was to be cutt, whereunto neither he nor any of his kins [...]olks and frendes would agree, shewing more ouer that he knew right wel how that the sayd A [...] vanden Winkele his daughter in law went with the sayd chyld to visit our Ladie a [...] [Page] Montaigu, and how that after her return the sayd chyld was found to be cured, as now he is. And all this is manifest by the attestation of the Magistrates, subsigned P. Numan, and sealed with the scale of the same Citie.

A suddain cure of a laguishing disease:

SIster Michielle Blyleuen, daughter of M.In No [...]. 1603. Thomas Blyleuen Sergeant Ma [...]or of the Citie of Louain, professed Religious of the Conuent of the Annunciata in the sayd Citie, in the yeare 1603 fel into a great disease, which lasted for the space of six moneths, together which a perpetual pensiuenes at her hart, and a shortnes of breath; which was so great that she lost all her strength, beeing so feeble & faint, that six or seuen tymes euery day the swear issued violently out of euery parte of her bodie, & the teares out of her eies; and for two whole moneths she was not able to go in any sorte, but as she was led by some one of the Religious, at which tyme she so lost her appetite, that she would receiue no meate, but vpon force [Page] and her superiours commaundment. In such sorte, that she was forced to vse the counsel first of Doctor Vilerius, and afterwards continually of Doctor Fienus both professors of Physick in the Vniuersitie of Louain. But for all that they had prescribed her receiptes at diuers tymes, yet she found no profit or ease thereby. Whereupon hauing now for two moneths space left all vse of Physick, she determined to go and pray three tymes at the Chappel which they had accomodated in their garden, in the honour of our ladie, and in memorie of the miracles which by her intercession were wrought at Montaigu: with a desyre to haue done the same in the place it self yf it might haue been permitted her. Going therefore to the sayd Chappel, with great paine & labor, vpon a saterday beeing the xvth. of Nouember in the sayd yeare 1603: & hauing there dō ne her deuotiō, she began to feel a great ease and alteration in her bodie, recouering a notable force & ablenes in her self, in so much that on the same day she did read the mattines of our Ladie on her knees, which for fiue moneths before she was not able to do. On the night following [Page] she beeing in the quier with the rest of the religious, & reading her howers, at the very instant that mattines was ended by the song of Salue Regina, the sayd Sister Michielle felt as it were a hād vpon her shoulder which seemed to haue pressed her down, & this was in so euident a manner that she felt & perfectly discerned the very fingers; whereby she started, & looked back to see the person that touched her. After Mattines she went to repose her, and rysing again in the morning she found herself meruelously amended, & so strong, that immediately after, she went to the Churche to be present at diuine seruice with the rest of the Religious, with whome she sung so lowd & liuely that they were greatly astonished thereat, not knowing what voice it was that sounded so shrill. And from that tyme afterwards she hath remained healthie, & in good plight, singing and assisting at the ordinarie obseruances as the other Religious: who a [...]ouch and testifie, that they neuer saw her so strong & in so good lyking as she hath been since the tyme aboue mentioned. And the Superiour and Vicaresse of [Page] the sayd Conuent haue giuen attestation & certified vnder their seales, that all this is true that hath been here related. Likewise the sayd religious hath also affirmed the same in the hands of the Reuerend Father Antonie de Bergaigne their ghostly father, vpon the twentith of Ianuarte 1604, and after that again in the presence of the Magistrates of the sayd Citie of Louain vpon the xvj. of March in the sayd yeare 1604. Vpon which day also the sayd Superiour Sister Clare van Leyden appearing before the same Magistrates, declared that she knew very wel that the sayd Religious was so long tyme sick, and in the aforesayd plight, as hauing seen it partly with her own eyes, and partly hauing vnderstood somuch from the sayd Religious herself, as it is to be seen by the attestation subsigned R. de Prince Secretarie, and sealed with the seale of the same Citie.

The cure of a rupture.

FRancis de Alarcon one of the hous holdIn Nou. 1603. of the most gracious Archdukes Albert [Page] and Isabel Dukes of Brabant our Princes, happened to be inwardly broken in managing & conducting a froward and stubborn hors, & the rupture came foorth as big as ones fist, who hauing indured this euil with much paine for three yeares and an half, & hauing vsed diuers remedies, by bāds, trusses, as other wise, yet without any proffit: at last he went in pilgrimage to our Ladies at Montaigu, where hauing prayed a whyle in the Chappel, he foūd himself perfectly freed and healed of his Rupture: inso much as be left of his band or trusse which he had worne before, as appeareth by his attestation giuen vnder his own seale.

How a wench that had the palsey, and was depriued of her wittes was healed.

ANgela wouters daughter of Elizabeth In No [...]. 1603. van Herp the wyfe of Mathias Le [...]teens cooper, dwelling in the old Corne-market in the Citie of Antwerp, about thirteen yeares old, was in the moneth of Septēber 1603. attained with a certain kynd of Apoplexie, especialy in her armes, and in [Page] her right syde and leg, with so great a stretching and tremblyng that she could not go, & at certaine tymes she became dumme, in such sorte that none could vnderstand her when she indcuoured to speake. At last she wholy lost her speache besydes this, she was depriued of her wittes, & became so weak, that she could not apparel herself, no nor so much as put her meat into her mouth. Her parēts caused Maister Bennet Rutten sworn Doctor of [...]hysick for the Citie of Antwerp to be sent for, who visiting the mayd, let her blood in the foot, and afterwards gaue her a purge, for he was of opinion that her malladie proceeded of some interiour motion, which Phisitions call Motus con [...]ulsi [...] ▪ which take their beginning of some venemous m [...]ter gathered in the braine: but after he had visited her twise or thrise, he let her parents sufficiently to vnderstand that he had little hope of her recouerie, counseling them to ma [...] some pilgrimage [...] to [...]se some other kynd of deuotion wi [...] their child, & to call vpon the help o [...] God for her. Which when her parents had heard they resolued that one of them should go with [Page] her to Montaigu, there to salute the Vi [...]gin Marie and this was to be performed so soone as the winter was past. But vpon the xxj. of Nouember (beeing the feast of the Presentation of our Ladie) the sayd Mathias rysing in the morning▪ aduertised his wyfe of the feast, and counseled her to go with her daughter to our Ladies Church in the sayd Citie of Ant [...]erp, to heare masse, and to pray there for her health: which shee did, and after she had heard masse she bought a wax taper, commaunding her daughter to light it, & to set it on the candlestick which stādeth before our Ladies altar, which she did with the hand that had the palsey, assisting and lifting it vp with the other hād, her mother beseeching God to help her, and the blessed Virgin to pray for her health, exhorting her daughter to call vpō the Mother o [...] God, that she would vouchsafe to pray for her: and immediately the sayd candle (although it was very wel lighted) wēt out of it self. Beeīg the secōd tyme lighted, out it wēt again, as it happened also [...] third tyme, vet she caused it stil to b [...] [...]ed again, & that the mayd by her [...] should put it on [Page] the forsayd candlestick, persuading herself that it would be a thing right pleasing to the Virgin Marie that the chyld herself should offer vp the candle vnto her. This donne, home shee returneth with her daughter, fynding for all this no alteration that day in the mayd: but the wench arising the next day (beeing the two and twētith of the sayd moneth) early in the morning, down she cometh all apparailed, whereat her Mother was much abashed, and enquired of her who had apparailed her: & when shee had heard her answer that shee alone had dōne it, and on the other part seeing her daughter to goe so perfectly wel, she began to thanck God and his holy Mother for it, beeing singulerly glad to see in her this alteration. And from that day stil afterwards the sayd wench remained whole and sound, going, speaking, and performing all her bodily functions as wel as euer she had dōne before: Where as during her foresayd disease she was neuer able to put on her clothes, to walk, to speak, or to do any kynd of work, but she sat alwayes trembling, and drawing in her limmes, and sometymes for the space [Page] of three dayes together a great quantitie of froathie spettle ranne cōtinually out of her mouth. And the aforesayd M. Bennet Rutten coming some certaine dayes after to visit the mayd, found her sudda [...] healed as hath been sayd. And all that [...] beē here related is to be seen by th [...]m formation takē hereof vpon the fifteenth as also vpō the last of December, in the sayd year 1603. by M. Iohn vander Noot esquire and Escheuin, and Maister Denis vander Neesen Secretarie of the sayd citie of Antwerp, appointed by Magistrates in commission for this matter. Who vpon these things examined vnder their solemn othes the sayd Mathias Lesteens her Father in law, and Elizabeth van Herp her Mother, the aforesayd Doctor Maister Bennet Rutten, and with these Father Michel van Ophouen licentiate in Diuinitie, and Religious in the Cloister of the Iacobins in the same place, who was kinsman to the chyld, and had also seen her first sick, and afterwards miraculously cured.

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The cure of a Rupture.

MAister Balthazar [...]an Rossum esquire, [...] [...]ou. 1603. sometymes coronel of a [...]ent of Allemans in the king or S [...] [...] seruice, beeing of the age of eight [...] fiftie, in the yeare 1597. as he was in the Citie of Luxemburg he found himself burst on the left syde, the which accident he caused to be visited by diuers surg [...]ons, both in the sayd Citie of Luxemburg, as also afterwards in the Citie of Do [...]ay, who iudged it to be a very Hernia or Rupture: and after he had vsed diuers helps and remedies, at last he was constrained to weare a trusse fitted for the purpose, not knowing any other wa [...] whereby, to he [...]p himself. But in the yeare 1603. ha [...]ing heard of the miracles of our la [...]ie at Mōtaig [...] he made a secret promis to goe thither in pilgrimage, and to pray for his health, with good hope to fynd there some help and fauor. And he accomplished this his deuout voyage thryse, about the moneth of September in the foresayd yeare, and after a whyle one day in Bruxell [...]s [Page] taking of his trusse which he vsed to weare, he found himself perfectly healed, neuer hauing any feeling thereof afterwards, verily assuring himself that he had obtained the sayd cure, onely by the fauor of God which he had found in thesayd pilgrimage: for so he declared and auouched the [...]ame vnder his so [...]ne othe vpon the xth of Iulie, in the hands of M. Iohn Briex Notarie in the Citie of Bruges, and in the presence of Andrew Vermeulen, and George the sonne of George Modan wittnesses: as appeareth by a publick instrument dispatched hereof, dated and signed as aboue, together with the subscript ō of the sayd van R [...]ssum, with his own hand.

How a Religious woman was suddainely cured of a strange and incurable disease.

SIster Barbara de Berges, the daughter ofI [...] D [...] 1 [...]03 M. Gerard de Berges in his lyfe-tyme Phisition of Antwerp, beeing six and thirty yeares old, made her profession in Religion in the Cloister called of the sick lea [...]ers in the sayd Citie, where shee was taken with a grieuous malladie, which forced her to keep her bed continually [Page] for the space of six yeares and three moneths. Of this her disease no man could giue any iudgemēt what it should be, some saying as mamely D. Ema [...]el G [...]mez Portugues (after that he had applyed vnto her many remedies) that it was an inward cancker. Others as M Bennet Rutten sworn Phisition of the sayd Citie, that it was Melancholia hypochondriaca, proceeding from the splene & left syde, accompained with diuers other accidents and infirmities, as the beating of the hart, & a certain kynd of anguish which took her so often as any person touched her bodie, though neuer so litle: and this with such a faynting and feeblenes, that it seemed that death it self would immediately haue ensued thereof. In so-much that they could not past twyse or thryse in a yeare take her out of her bed: and yet euery tyme she would fall into such qualmes & fayntings that they thought she would haue dyed, and at one tyme amongst others beeing taken out of her bed, and layd vpon an other on the ground, vntil such tyme as her owne was made redie, shee became so feeble by this touching and remouing her, that they were forced to let her so ly [Page] on the ground for fifteen dayes continually before she could return again to her self. Whereof many were wittnesses, as hereafter shallbe set down: and amongst the rest the Reuerend. M. Gosu [...]n Ba [...]son Chanon of our Ladies in An [...]werp, & other Religious womē who had assisted in that tyme of her sowning. And although she became very cold lying in this manner on the ground, yet she could not indure that any should apply any hote napkins or clothes to warme her bodie, for then would she fall agaī into her former sowning and fayntings, that euery one looked for nothing els but that she should dy. Yea, which is more, yf any did but onely touch the bed wherein she did ly, or so much as the curtaines, she took such an apprehension thereof, that she sowned incontinently, and for this cause, they remooued her out of her bed but twise or thryse in a yeare, as we haue declared.

And the Religious women that attended her were constrained to put good store of thornes round about the pillers of her bed to the end that none might touche it whereby the patient might not fall into her strange swownings. And it is [Page] to be noted, that for the space of s [...] moneth; before she was healed she had neuer been out of her bed and she could neuer sit vpright therein, either to eat or drinck, or to do any thing els: moreouer the sinewes of her left leg were so shrūck vp that it was shorter by a foot then the other. Again for these six yeares this poor religious person had vsed the counsel and help of many Physitions, and had tryed many medicines, receiptes, and remedies, which rather made her wors then better: in so much as the Phisitions plainely affirmed that they knew not how to help her. Some sower yeares before she was cured they made her an yssue, and they thrust a great red whote pack needle through the skin of her left side, drawing through the same a corde made of silk, the which (for the space of three moneths) they drew dayly vp and down to make a way, through the which the bad humors might passe: and although hereby she suffered much paine, yet it profited her nothing at all: yea she rather felt her self woors then before. Now this Religious seeing there was no hope in man, she armed her self with patience the best [Page] she could, and she had for some yeares before vpon deuotion determined that when she had thus lyen seuen yeares, she would either visit or cause some to visit our Ladie of Hanswyck in the citie of Maclin, in hope by way of prayer to obtaine her health. But in the meane while hauing heard of the great miracles w [...]ch were wrought at Montaigu by the inuocation of the glorious Virgin Marie, she had a great desire to visit that place, and she b [...]eched God to affoord her so much strength that she might be caried thither. In the meane tyme sister A [...]e va [...] Calst [...]r Superiour of that Conuent hauing compassion of the desolate poor creature promised her, that she her self would go and visit our Ladie at Montaigu for her, and that there she would pray for he [...] health: the which thing she fulfilled: and beeing returned home, she went to see the sayd Religious whome she found in the self same state, who told her Superior that she thought it good to go thither thryce & that she had beseeched our Lord that shee her self might be the third person that should there visit our Ladie. It happened not lōg after that the [Page] aboue named Chanon Batson (who diuers tymes vpon charitie visited & comforted the patient in her afflictions) had sayd masse in the sayd Conuent: at which tyme he recommended her to God, and at that very tyme determined to make a pilgrimage vnto Montaigu in her name, & there to pray for her health. After the masse was sayd he went vnto the sick person, and declared vnto her his intention: the which when she had heard, she was inwardly altered, and seemed to be exceedingly glad thereof, as the sayd M. Batson wel perceiued: whereby he felt him self the more incited to accomplish thesayd promesse. Vpon this resolution he departed from Antwerp with Sir Vulmar [...] Schetz Pastor of the sayd Conuent, passing by bote on the riuer of Scaldis vnto Willebrook, from thence they went on foot vnto Montaigu, & in lyke manner returned back again on foot afterwards. Beeing at Montaigu vpon the third of December, in the sayd yeare 1603. which was the eue of S. Barbara, they both calebrated masse in the Chappel of our Ladie, and prayed vnto allmightie God by the intercession of his holy Mother to vouchsafe to [Page] restore this poor and miserable Religious woman to her health. Vpon the self same day that the holy sacrifice was there offered for her, the sayd Religious womā beeing in Antwerp in her bed felt her self to be much amended, and to haue obtained a new strength, and immediately afterwards she felt so great payne in her bodie, that she fell into an ague. The next day (beeing the feast of S. Barbara) at eleuen of the clock about noon she began again to feel her strength much to increase, and she spake to the Sister that kept her that she would reache vnto her her hād, which when she had taken, she raysed vp her self by her self, vpon her feet vpon her bed: whereat the sister beeing much astonished cryed out for feare, and the sayd Religious fel down heauily again vpon her bed, not sustaining for all this any alteration or faintnes hereby, whereas before she was woūt to fal into sowning and that almost to death, when any did so much as but touch her, yea although it were neuer so softly, as hath been sayd. And the sayd sister Barbara de Berges remayned all that day in her bed, although she thought that after dinner [Page] she was strong enough to walk vp and down her chamber. But vpon the next day following which was fryday & the fifth of the aforesayd moneth of December, she craued to haue her apparell deliuered vnto her, which was giuen her, and she put it on alone by her self without any to help her, beginning first with her left arme, on which syde all her disease had been, which arme none might touch before, no more then any other part of her bodie without the daunger of falling into her accustomed faintenes: and so hauing apparailed herself shee came cheerefully out of her bed: and signing her self with the signe of the crosse, down she cast herself vpon her knees, & lifting vp her eyes to heauen, she gaue thancks to our Lord and sayd: Praise be to the O Mari [...]. Which when the other Religious womē saw who were in the chamber with her, they powred out teares of ioy: and Sister Michielle de Bergu [...]s the natural Sister of the sayd Barbara fel into a swoune, vpon tender affection & astonishement which she had conceiued. After this the sayd Sister sat her down in a chaire by the fyer for an hower or two, where as before [Page] she could not indure any fyer, no not so much as that her clothes should be warmed. Sitting thus before the fy [...]r she sayd that she fe [...]t such a force & strength in her bones and ma [...]ow, from her head down to her feet, as yf some had powred somwhat from aboue vpon her, & she began to walk all alone about the chamber. Whereupon the religious women who were there present sang Te Deum in way of thancks giuing, and after that the Hymne A [...] Mar [...]s stella, the sayd patient inioying the health and good disposition of her bodie going & walking vp and down whether so euer she pleased recouering also her appetite which so long tyme before shee had lost, in so much that [...]oorthwith shee dranck a good draught of wyne, and some other sustenāce shee also receiued, and that with a very good stomack, whereas in times past she had no desyre to her meate, and she could not so much as swallow down a little wyne although it were drop after drop without great paine and difficultie. And vpon the same fryday at night came home from Mōtaigu the sayd maister Batsō, and the Pastor, and coming into the sayd [Page] religious womans chamber, they found her sitting before the fyer, who arose incontinently of her self and gaue them the welcome home, shewing vnto thē how that all her accidents and diseases were perfectly cured. And so became dayly more strong, and in better plight: in such sorte, that vpon the next day she heard three masses, with the rest of the Conuēt, at the which she assisted for the most part vpon her knees. Some two or three dayes after the feast of S. Barbara the a foresayd Doctor M. Benedict Rutten was sent for by the Conuent, to visit the sayd religious womā, whome he foūd whole and strong, going vp and down the monasterie without any crutch, staffe, or any humaine help. And all this that hath been here sayd was verified & solemnly auouched before Maister Iohn vander N [...] Esquire and Escheuin, and maister Denis vander N [...]s [...]n Secretarie of the sayd Citie of Antwerp appointed in commission by the Magistrates for this matter as hath been sayd, acording to the information taken hereof, & put in wryting: and this by diuers persons of good: credit, who at diuers tymes had visited and assisted [Page] the sayd patient in her grieuous malladie, and afterwards found her thus suddenly cured: to witt, the sayd Sister Anne van Cal [...]re Superiour, the sayd Maister Gosuin Ba [...]son Chanon, & Maister VV [...]mare Schetz Pastor, the sayd Sister Barbara de Bergues the sayd Doctor Benedict Rutten, and Sister Michielle de Bergues vpon the last of December, in the sayd yeare 1603. And this same religious was afterwards in very good and perfect health of bodie vpon the last of May in the yeare 1604, beeing visited by him that hath written these things and in the moneth of Iulie she personally went in pilgrimage to our Ladies at Mōtaigu, as she herself had before prayed our Lord, and verily trusted that she should be the third that was to go thither in pilgrimage for herself: a thing to all the world very strange and wounderfull.

A long deafnes cured.

DAme Adrian de Goux de wedergraet In De [...]. 1603. Prioresse of the Cloister of Shert [...] gi [...]en dale or valley of the Dutchesse at O [...]rgem neere to the Citie of Bruxelles: [Page] some thirtie-eight yeares agoe became deafe or both her eares, in such sorte that she could not heare when the Riligious did sing, yea although they did all sing together in her presence, hearing nothing but a certain little sound as yf it had been a farr of, and the lyke was of the sound of the belles of the sayd Conuent. Besydes this▪ she had an exceeding cōtinuall payn in the top of her head, with a certain noyse in her eares, as yf it had been of a water-mill. And although she had applied diuers remedies, as wel by the aduise of Physitions, as of others, yet she receiued no benefit by them: but that sometymes after she had vsed these medicines, and receiptes, she felt her self a little amē ded, the which lasted for some one, two, or three moneths, but she fell again incontinently in to her accustomed deafnes [...] and thus passing many yeares therewith, she abandoned all physick, wholy resigning herself to the wil of God. But at last vnderstanding of the miracles of Mōtaigu she purposed to send some thither to our Ladie in pilgrimage: and about the feast of S. Remigius in the yeare 1603, she sent thither M. Iohn wa [...]lart a religiou [...] [Page] man, and A [...]onet Hazard her mayd, with an almes, & she sent thither afterwards the sayd A [...]tonet alone. The which pilgrimages beeing ended, it happened vpō the first Sunday of Aduēt that the sayd Dame Adrian hauing been that night at Mattines with the other religious womē: & returned thence to take her rest, she began to dreame, and beeing betwixt sleeping and waking it seemed vnto her that she saw before her an image of our Ladie, the which opening her eyes she beheld: at which sight at the beginning she was affraied, but taking courage she beseeched the glorious Virgin Marie that she would vouchsate to pray for the cure of her deafnes: and foorthwith the sayd Image stretched foorth the hand, and touched her vpon the temples and eies, saying vnto her certain words: whereof she hath as yet perfect memorie. And so vanishing away, vpon the next day, thesayd Prioresse perceiued that she begā to heare better then before, and afterwards by litle and litle within the space of seuē or eight dayes s [...]e perfectly recouered her hearing: in so much as at this present she not onely heareth the soūd of the belles, [Page] or the song of the religious, but she can perfectly and distinctly heare what any speaketh, as wel as any other, not hauing the former paines or noyse in her head. As the sayd dame Prioresse hath testified & auouched all this that here hath been sayd vnder her own seale, & the seale of her Cōuēt, as also vnder their seales the like hath been donn by Father Iohn M [...] lemans Confessor, Sister Marie vander Lindē Subprioresse, Sister Elizabeth Houture, Sister Marie Beck, Sister Elizabeth du Terne, and Sister Annevā Di [...]ue all religious women of this Conuent: who haue seen and noted the sayd dame Prioresse, to haue had the aforesaid deafenes, and now to inioy her perfect hearing, according to an instrument framed thereof, subsigned & sealed as aboue, vpon the xxvj of May 1604.

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How a lamce wench was cured.

IOhn Nyemegens Apoticarie dwelling inIn D [...] 1603. the Keestrate in the Citie of Ant [...]werp, had a daughter called Margarit about thirteē yeares of age, who from the tyme that she was six woneths old had a lame foot, in such sorte that her right leg was shorter then the other by a good hand bredth; wherevpon they were constrained to vnderlay her shooe, and make it higher, & for all this she went with great paine vpon her toes, for that her heele could not rest vpon her shooe, as appeared to the commissaries according to the information which they receiued thereof. This wench hauing heard what was reported of the miracles which by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Mother of God were wrought at Montaigu, she neuer ceased to intreat her Father to permitt her to goe thither vpō deuotion: but her Father telling her yf she desyred to be cured, that thereby she might be more pleasing & acceptable to the world, that then infallibly her prayers would [Page] neuer be graunted. She answered him that she intended no such thing, but rather that her intention was good and holy: and thereupon he yeelded vnto her that she might go that voyage, sending with her an auncient mayd seruant, called Anne van Poyer: and they both departed together from Ant [...]erp vpon the xxv [...] th. of Nouember 1603. & arriued at Diest vpon the xxviijth. and then vpon the next day beeing the xxixth. they went to Montaigu, where they remained two dayes: to win the xxxth of the sayd moneth of Nouember, and the first of December: lying one night at Montaigu and the other night at Sic [...]: dayly performing their deuotions at the Chappel of our Ladie: & vpon the third day at the end of the second masse which they hard, the sayd Margari [...] perceiued that her foot was amended, telling the foresayd seruant, that she thought she could go wel enough without her high shooe, and thereupon she began to stand vpon her feet, and to walk vpright. And beeing returned from thēce to Diest they bought her an other paire of shooes of aequal higth, which she put on, and she perceiued that her legges were now become [Page] aequal, and the one as long as the other. And thus vpon the fifth of the sayd moneth of December they returned to Antwerp, the sayd Margarit beeing deliuered from her accustomed halting, now, walking on both her feet with shooes of equall higth, because her legges were be come of aequall length. All which was verified & auouched vnder their solemne o [...]hes, both by the aforesayd Iohn Nyemegens, and by Marie Vermeulen his wyfe, as also by the sayd Anne van Poyer, Philippes vanden Brook and Iohn de Ram Almoner of the sayd Citie and neighbour vnto thesayd Iohn Nyemegens, before the aforesayd M. Iohn vander Noo [...] Esquire and Escheuin, and Maister Denis vander Neesen Secretarie of the sayd Citie of Antwerp, put in commission about this affaire: all which aboue named persons knew this wench to haue been lame euen from her infancie, and to haue been miraculously cured as hath been sayd: as in lyke manner thesayd Margarit Nyemegēs declared the same in the presence of the former persons, comformable to an information taken thereof vpō the xijth. of the sayd moneth of December 1603.

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The sore eyes of a Chyld suddainely cured.

ELizabeth Verbiest daughter of Peter Ver [...]est Sopemaker dwelling in the CitieIn Dec. 1603. of Antwerp vpon the Zant, and of Mari [...] Speeka [...]rs his wyfe, beeing seuē yeares old, about Christmasse in the yeare 1603. had an accident in her eyes for the space of fiue or six dayes, her eyes beeing verie read and inflamed, in so much that she could not indure the day-light nor any other light, and through the paine thereof she could rest neither by day or by night, & one of her eyes was swolne as big as a great nut, and although her parents ceased not to apply diuers remedies to them, yet no amendment insued thereby. It happened that on a certain day the chyldes mother met with one la [...] Go [...]arts the wyfe of Iohn Bertells a bleacher of linnē cloth, dwelling in Antwerp, & talking with her of the sayd accident, thesayd la [...]e gaue vnto her a little peece of the Oke of our Ladie of Montaigu to vse it against the aforesayd disease.

Which the sayd mother receiuing, putting [Page] her hope in the help of the Virgin Marie shee steeped the sayd wood in a little rose-water mixed with raine water, and a little holy water, and with this water she washed one morning her daughters eyes, who the next night rested very wel, not feeling any paine at all, and vpon the day following in the morning, she awaked as perfectly whole and cured as euer she was before the foresayd disease had happened vnto her: in so much that she went to the schoole the very self same day, feeling afterwards no manner of grief in her eyes. As her father and mother auouched the same vnder their othes before the Magistrates of the Citie of Antwerp, vpon the nynth of March in the yeare 1604▪ according to an act framed thereof, and subsigned Vander Neesen Secretarie of the sayd Citie.

The cure of a sore that was fiue and twentie yeares old.

ANthonie vande [...] Velde keeper and officerIn D [...]. 1 [...]03 of the forest of So [...]gne: dwelling in the village of Terhulp three duitch [Page] myles [...]ō Bruxdles was attainted with a quartain ague in the yeare 1575. which continued about three or fower yeares, whereby he became so weak and leane that he was but onely skinne and bones, Moreouer his left leg became so great that he was not able to walk thereon: and this hauing continued long, and fynding no help although he had applied many things thereunto by the adui [...]e and counsel of some apothecaries & others, vpon a day as he went vnto a certaine surgeon in hope to be holpen by him, who intending to giue some ease to the patiēt, with a corrisiue medicin made a little hole in the sayd leg, whereby some water and moisture began to yssue out of the same, but nothing els: and after a whyle sundrie other yssues began to grow in diuers partes thereof, somtymes on the one syde somtyme on the other syde of that which was made by the barber. In somuch that in short tyme al these yssues gatherīg into one, they made a sore of the greatnes & compas of an egge: and this vpon the shinne aboue the ankle, beeing very red, and burning ho [...]e, and so ful of corruption that many thought the very bone [Page] had perished and decayed. And as the patient indured intollerable payne, he caused diuers other remedies to be applied thereunto, but all in vaine and to no purpose. He also went in pilgrimage to diuers deuout places, and yet obtained he no ease at all thereby. At the last in the yeare 1603. in the moneth of December, in the beginning of Aduent hauing heard some talk of the miracles which by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marie were wrought at Montaigu, the sayd Anthonie much desyred to get some peece of the wood of the Oake wherein the miraculous picture had wount to haue been set: and hauing by the meanes of a certain frend obtained a peece, & withall a siluer medall of our Ladie of the same place, he put them both into cold water, and there with he washed his sore for the space of nyne dayes, adding some few prayers vnto God, and to the glorious Virgin Marie. And from the very tyme that he began to washe his leg, he perceiued that the sore (which he sustained for fyue-and-twentie yeares together, with much paine weakenes and extenuation of his bodie) began to close [Page] vp, and euery day to become lesser and lesser, in such sorte that when the nyne dayes were expired, it was quyte shut vp and healed, and since that tyme, he hath remayned in good plight, not feeling therein any swelling or payne, declaring that from that tyme he hath found his bodie in good disposition and health, that he seemeth to himself to haue become yonger then he was before. All which that here hath been sayd he auouched vnder his solemne othe before the Magistrates of the Citie of Bruxelles, vpon the xxjth. of October 1604. And vpon the same day appeared also before the sayd Magistrates Mistris Gertrude Ianotea [...] wyfe of VVrbert Valle, dwelling at the Inne called du Ken [...]ebutin in the same Citie, and with her Bertr and vanden Velde brother and Anthonette Baston wyfe of the sayd Anthonie vanden Velde, who vnder the lyke othes affirmed that they had often seen the sayd sore, the which was very foule and vgly to behold: to witt, the sayd Mistris Gertrude some eight yeares ago, and thesayd Anthonette euer since it first began. As also they had seen the same sore after he had washed it, and they had found it [Page] whole and cured as hath been sayd: as also at that very tyme the sayd Anthonie shewed it to the magistrates them selues, who found it to be intiere and whole, according to their attestation made hereof, sealed with the seale of the sayd Citie, and signed P. Numan Secretarie, and dated as aboue.

The punishement of a soldier that determined to hinder the Pilgrimage of Montaigu.

IT wil not be from the purpose to declare [...]n Dec. 1603. in this place, how that a certain soldier of the gheusos and rebelles of Holland had determined one day with twelue other companions to swim ouer the riuer of Demere, & so to come and kil such Pilgrims as went towards our Ladie of Montaigu, and there withall to rob the iewels & donaries that were offered there. And for this purpos they had fitted themselues with certaine sutes of canuas, that they might be the sooner dry. But meaning first to vndertake some other exploit with these his mates, he was [Page] wounded through both his legges by an harquebuse, in such sorte that his determination was dashed. As he himself (acknowledging his bad intention) declared the same to a certain persō of good credit, whose name we here conceale for that he liueth amongst the enimies. And to say nothing whether this ought to be esteemed for a miracle or no, yet is it worthy the consideration, to see God his euident prouidence in this matter.

How a lame woman was cured.

CAtharin Mos [...]ier wyfe of Iohn Bailly dwelling in the town of A [...]h in theIn Dec. 1 [...]0 [...] countrie of Henaul [...], beeing in chyldbed, was taken with a certain disease which caused in her the palsey, & stretching of her sin [...]wes on her left syde, whereby shee became altogether lame, and when she walked it was with great paine.

Whereupon her husband resolued to go in pilgrimage for her to our Ladie at Mōta [...]gu, to obtaine there of our ladie his wyues health. The Same voyage beeing made and his deuotion ended, the sayd [Page] woman was perfectly cured of her halting and lamenes, as it appeareth by the attestation of the Magistrates of thesayd town of A [...] dated vpon the last of December 1603. signed I. le Merchier, and sealed with the seale of the same town.

How a possessed person was delu [...]red by wood of the Oke of our Laedie.

CAthari [...] de Bus daughter of the lateIn [...]. 1604. Iohn de Bus dwelling in the Citie of Li [...]le in the Coūtie of Fla [...]ters, in the yeare 1602. beeing sixteē yeares of age or therabout was found to haue been possessed of the deuil, who by diuers sleightes trū peries and promises had deceiued & cir [...]umuēted her: insomuch that she could be scarse a quarter of an hower in peace, without beeing seased vpon vexed and troubled by the enimy: which made her speak (to the purpos) diuers sortes of languages, as Hebrew, Greek and Latin: as maister Michiel le Cādel Pastor of the Parish of S. Sauiour in the Citie of Lille, & Maister Siluester Deuis priest of the same Church solemnly auouched, as hauing heard and [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] exorcized the sayd patient. Who besydes the speaking of these strange languages, did in furie things aboue all naturall and humaine force: so that it was necessarie to haue fiue or six men to hold her: who notwithstanding were much troubled to keep and hold her down. For when they came neere vnto her with the Blessed Sacrament of the altar she wrythed & wrested herself strangely, both with her legges, armes, and back, as with her neck and head, with a terrible countenance, gnashing of her teeth, and grisely drawing of her mouth. The parents & frends of this wench labored so much that she was diuers tymes exorcized, sometymes by certain fathers of the order of the Capuchins, sometymes by other Priestes, vnto whome the wicked spirits answered in diuers languages, confessing at that tyme that they were seuen in number, they spake diuers iniurious and scandalous things, & told the faultes of diuers that were present. So that one day whyle this Catharin was exorcized in a Chappel of our Ladie built in the honour of the hows of our Ladie of Lor [...]tto (which wa [...] after the [Page] [...]east of All Sainctes in the yeare 1603) there was a reporte in the Citie of Lille that the town of Ostend (which as then was kept by the rebelles of Holland, and assieged by the armie of our Princes) was surrendered: the enemie was so bold as to say by the mouth of the wench that it was not trew, & that they should see so much ereit were long, and that those that had bruted it abroad were certaine theeues that came from robbing the Cibo [...]re of the Blessed Sacrament in the town of Newport the which they had as yet in their bagge, and that the great maisterA [...] for churche robbers. compelled them to say so much to accuse their sinne. Which was afterwards found true. For vpon the self same day two soldiers Suissers were cast into pryson in the sayd Citie of Lille, who had blazed abroad the report of the aforesayd rendring of Ostend and the sayd Cibo [...]r was found amongst them, the which they had stolen out of Newport, whether afterwards they were carried, & there put to death by order of Iustice The priests cōtinuing the sayd exorcisines, after some fower moneths the patient was deliuered of one of those wicked spirits, and [Page] after a whyle successiuely again of other three, giuing fower euidēt signes of their departure, by breaking or cracking diuers pa [...]es of the glasse windo [...]s as otherwise. Hauing first and before they departed throwne out at the mouth of the patient sometymes brimstone, sometymes pinnes in great number, a bowed peece of siluer of fiue sous, and a great naile of the length of ones hād. After that againe thesayd exorcisines were continued by thesayd Sir Siluester Denis, both by the intreatie of the wenches parents, as also by the commaundement of the Lord Bishop of Tournay, and in the space of two moneths by the ordinarie exorcismes of the Catholik Church two other of the enimies were cast out: & a moneth or fiue weeks after, again on other▪ And although now seuen wicked feendes (according to the number which they themselues had discouered) were departed, yet the sayd Sir Siluester perceiued that the enemy had lyed, and that the sayd wench was not yet cured. Wherefore he ceased not to continue the exorcismes vntil the beginning of the yeare 1604, within the octaues of the Epiphan [...] of our lord: when on a tyme the sayd [Page] Sir Siluester exorcising the patient in the presence of a great multitude of people: the deuil began to cry out; and speak to one that was there present these words. Arte thow there also? I know wel enough from whence thou comest; and what thou hast brought with thee: thow arte one of them that hath been visiting Ma [...]te of Montaigu. It was true that the parents and frends of the sayd wench had made a vow to goe in Pilgrimage to our Ladie at Montaigu to pray there for her cure. At these words the people began to look about them, who he should be of whome the enimie had spoken, & there was found a man that was come from Montaigu, and had brought with him a peece of the Oke of our Ladie. Whereupon Sir Siluester took the sayd peece; and made the patient to eat it, and immediately after she had swallowed it, the enimie (who called himself Ho [...]illi [...], Ch [...]que [...], and Clinq [...]art) shewed himself in her throat, crying out that he scorched and burned, because of the wood which was eaten: & he added▪ that he was cōpelled to depart, and that there remained in her as yet three: & beeing deman̄ded by the [Page] exorcist by whose merit and intercession he was to depart? The wicked feēd answered; of Mar [...] of Montaigu. And afterwards beeing demaunded what signe he would giue of his departure? He sayd: he would burst a glasse of the Church window. And immediately after, two of thē departed with the sayd signe of bursting the glasse, & the third saying that he was the last of tenne, cryed out (in going foorth) with a lowd voice. V [...]e N. Dame de Montaigu, qui nous faict sortir. Honour be to our Ladie of Montaigu, who maketh vs to depart. He beeing compelled to speake these words (as wth reasō we may presume) byM [...]. 1. M [...]. 3. Luc 4. [...]. [...]. the maiestie & soueraine power of God; euen as we haue in the Gospel, that the deuils in their departing gaue testimonie that our Lord Iesus Christ was the sonne of God. And in going he plucked out a great naile that was fastned deep in the wall, the which he threw against the window, but yet touched it not.

And from that day afterwards the sayd Catharin remayned whole and perfectly free from the possession and vexation of the enimie: inioying all her limmes and sences as freely as euer she did before. [Page] And about the beginning of May the sayd Catharin accompained with the sayd Sir Siluester Denis and Peter du [...]rieu her vncle went towards Montaigu, where she remained for nyne dayes, going to confession and communion and dayly visiting the Chappel of our Ladie, yeelding thācks to God, and to his holy Mother for the mercie which she had receiued. And all this that hath here been sayd is manifest both by the deposition and attestation of the sayd Catharin, of the sayd Sir Siluester & Peter du Trieu made vnder their othes before the Pastor of Sichen, Maister Anthonie de Bouckhout Maier, and Sir Bartholmew Thichon Chaplain of our Ladies: as also by an other attestation made and passed vnder the othes of the sayd persons, and with them of Sir Michel le Candel, and Marie du Bus wyfe of the aforesayd Peter, before the Magistrates of the Citie of Lille, vpon the first of Iune, in the sayd yeare 1604. according to a wryting composed hereof, dated as aboue, sealed with the greate seale of the sayd Citie and signed P. Mout [...]n.

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How a Chyld that was burst was afterwards cured.

GErard van Omel wyk-maister of theIn May 1604. Citie of Antwerp, and Susan VVagemaker, hi [...] wyfe, had in the yeare 1903. a chyld called Lew [...]s, who from the tyme that he was sower moneths old was foūd to be burst, in-so-much as his Parents were constrained to bynd him with a trusse fitted for this purpose: because the rupture came foorth oftentymes as big as a great ball, which put the chyld to much paine, and his parents to great sorrow. At last about the end of April, or in the beginning of May, in the yeare 1604 the said Susan resolued to go in pilgrimage with he▪ chyld to our Ladie of Montaigu, to pray there for his cure: which shee performed at the same tyme. But beeing [...]n the Citie of Louain, and reddie to depart thence to Montaigu, there came tyding▪ that the troupes of the muteners were not farr from Diest, and Tillemont, committing there many outrages and insolencies. Whereupon some dissuaded [Page] her to go any further as she did not, but stayed at the sayd Citie of Louain. And so perceiuing that shee could not accomplish her p [...]ous intention at Montaigu, went with her chyld to S Peters Church in the sayd Citie, and there shee caused a masse to be sayd at our Ladies altar in the honour of God, and this shee did in lieu of her desyred pilgrimage: which masse shee did heare deuoutely, praying for her chyldes health. This donne she departed thence, and returned home to Antwerp, where after a day or twain taking from the chylds bodie his trusse, shee found him perfectly healed: insomuch that shee neuer needed to bynd him therewith afterwards, for so much (I say) as the chyld remayned in perfect health, as beeing intierly cured. As this Gerard and his wyfe testified and declared vnder their solemn othes, before the Magistrates of Antwerp on the thirteenth of October in the sayd yeare 1604. on which day lyke w [...]e appeared M. Francis van Maldere [...]urgeō, dweling in the same citie, who vnder the lyke othe affi [...]me [...] that he had seen the sayd chyld, and that he knew him to haue been burst, and how that at this [Page] present he is perfectly healed, for the assurāce whereof he had visited & serched him. Lykewise Cathar [...] Briers widow of one Simon Maes appeared there, who auouched that shee had often seen & visited the said chyld whylest he was burst, and made for him certain trusses, and how she fyndeth him now healed: as manifestly may be seen by the information that was iuridically taken hereof, & subsigned D vander Ne [...]sen secretarie of the sayd Citie, and dated as aboue.

How a blynd man recouered his sight.

ANthony de Gro [...]e born at Eyckeren neere to the citie of Antwerp, beeing [...]n May. 1603. nyne and twētie yeares old, in the yeare 1597. in lent, had a great defluction of a catharre which fell down vpon his right eve beeing then a soldier vnder Captain Bourer in the forte of Dam [...]rugge, nee [...]e to the sayd citie. Whereupon he withdrew h [...]mself to an hospital in Antwerp to be there healed and assisted: in which place they applyed vnto him diuers remed [...]es, & amongst others, he had [...]nyssue made [Page] him in the nape of the neck, the which he did beare for six weeke, but he profited nothing thereby: yea he lost quyte the sight of that eye. About some two yeares after seruing again as a soldier vnder captain Grysper [...] in a forte neere to Callo by Antwerp, there happened him an other defluxion in his left eye, whereby he lost that eye within the space of eight dayes, in somuch as thē he became sta [...]k blynd, and thereby was forced to forsake his seruice, and to cause himself to be led to Antwerp, where hauing sold all that he had, he sustained his lyfe very miserably, and at last he was brought to that extremitie, that he had no other meanes wherby to lyue but by the charitie and almes of good people: making himself to be led vp & down the streetes of the same Citie for many yeares. But hauing heard of the miracles which were wrought at Montaigu, he resolued and made a vow to go thither, there to do honour to the glorious Virgin Marie, and to pray vnto her that he might recouer his sight, yf it were for his soules health. And thus afterwards vpon the xxviijth of April in the yeare 1604. he departed in boate from [Page] Antwerp to the Citie of Macline, accompained with a boy that did lead him, and with Vincent vanden Ho [...]t a lame man: and hauing continued at Macline vntil the first of May, they went together to Montaigu, and arriued there vpon the next day after dinner, beeing Sunday the secōd of thesayd moneth. Vpō that day they did their deuotions at the Chappel of our Ladie of Montaigu, and so vpon the moonday, & tuisday following the sayd blynd man still praying for his sight and washing twise euery day his eyes with the water which is in the sayd mountayne. Vpon moonday he began to feel great paine, shootings, and prickings in his head, and especially about his eyes. Vpon tuisday he went to confession to Sir Bartholmew Tichon Chaplein of the sayd place, and receiued the blessed Sacrament of the altar: and after dinner vpon the same day beeing the fourth of the sayd moneth of May, about the tyme of Salue whyle this Anthony was praying in the Chappel, and creeping vpon all fower about the altar, saying some prayers, he felt as if certain strings had been broken in his eyes, and therewithal he recouered his sight, being able [Page] a little after to marck and know euery thing, and so became better and better: in so much that he could perfectly see and know all sortes of figures and cullours, read, and discerne peeces of money, and go whether soeuer he pleased, without any to lead him, euen as he was wount before that he fel into thesaid blyndnes. The which the sayd Anthony declared and affirmed solemnly vnder his othe, before the Magistrates of the Citie of Bruxelles (returning from Montaigu towards the Citie of Antwerp) vpon the seuenth of the same moneth of May, in this yeare 1604. Before whome also vpō the same day appeared Vincent vanden Hout who vnder the lyke othe declared that for fiue yeares he had seen and known this blynd man in the sayd Citie of Antwerp: and how with him he had made the voyage to Montaigu, where he had miraculously recouerd his sight, as thesayd Vincent had seen, hauing been neere to him in the sayd Chappel of our Ladie. All conformable to an act of the sayd Magistrates composed thereof, and dates vpon the seuenth of May 1604 signed P. Numan, and sealed with the seale of thesayd [Page] Citie. And vpon the xiijth of the said moneth this Anthony de Groo [...]e beeing called into the full assembly of the Magistrates of the citie of Antwerp, and examined concerning his cure, declared vnder his solemn othe all that he had sworne before the magistrates of Bruxelles adding moreouer, that at what tyme he began first to see in the Chappel of our Ladie, euery thing did seeme vnto him to be of a yellow cullour, which notwithstanding passed quickly away, and immediately after he enioyed his perfect sight. Vpon the same day appeared before the Magistrates of Antwerp R [...]miold of Mansdale Lord of O [...]sterlans, who vnder the lyke othe declared that for many yeares agoe he had known this Anthoni [...], as hauing somtimes been his seruant, and that he knew right wel that for fiue yeares or thereabout he was stark blynd, & beeing blynd had been diuers tymes at his hows for almesse: hauing seen him often led through the streetes, & to haue been with other beggers before the Church doores. Besides Clement Ionkers Tisser and appeared before the sayd Magistrates, who declared and auo [...]ched that [Page] some fiue yeares a goe this Anthonie had complayned vnto him euen with teares how that he had lost his sight, whereupō he gaue him counsel to repaire vnto a certain surgeon that dwelt at the golden hand in S. Anthonies street of Antwerp, to craue his help, and yet for all that he remained stil blynd. Also the Almoners of the sayd Citie appeared before this assembly, who affirmed how they had seē for some yeares this Antonie beeing thē blynd to haue been led through the streetes, & to beg for almesse: and how that somtymes they had sent for him to their chamber of the poor, giuing him some assistance for his entertainement. And how that beeing brought to the same chamber ypon the xxvjth. of April in thesayd yeare 1604 he gaue them to vnderstand that he was determined to goe in pilgrimage to our Ladies of Montaigu, to beseech God that by her intercession he might recouer his sight: whereupon they wishing him the help and assistence of God, caused the portion to be deliuered vnto him which he was woūt to receiue weekely: and how that since his return hauing been with them they saw and [Page] knew that he enioyed his sight, for which they praysed & thancked God, giuing vnto the sayd Anthonie an extraordinarie almesse. Finally the sayd Bourguemaisters, Escheuins and counsellers of the communitie of the sayd Citie of Antwerp (beeing collegially assembled) auouched and certified vpon the same day that for some yeares they had seen this Anthonie, blynd, and begging almesse in diuers places, both at the gate of our Ladies Church as els where. All this beeing manifest by the attestation of the sayd Magistrates dated vpon the sayd xiij, of May 1604. subsigned D. vander Neesen, & sealed with the seale of the same Citie.

How a man being nyntie yeares old was cured of a rupture.

Iohn Montady born in the Cuntrie ofIn May. 1604 Angoles [...] in France, beeing nyntie yeares of age, dwelling in the Citie of Bruxelles, in the yeare 1602. serued as a soldier in the cōpanie of Ca [...] Anse [...]. in the Regiment of Count [...] Busq [...]or: beeing at the siege of Ostend in the Coūtie [Page] of Flanders, which town at that tyme was held by the rebelles against our Princes, standing one night sentenel vpon some part of the trenches, it happened that a canon ball beeing shott from the town caried away with it a great peece of wood that was not fart of from the place where this Mōtady stood, which came so neer vnto his bodie, that foorthwith he felt himself to be inwardly burst by the wynd and ayre of the sayd peece of wood: as a little afterwards the rupture shewed it self vpon his left syde: and it so increaced that within three dayes space it was as big as a mannes head: in so much as he could not possibly go but with two crutches, the which he vsed for two yeares together. And the weight of the sayd rupture was so great, that the skin which was about it began to slit, and was as it were rent in twain. Vpon a tyme before easter in the yeare 1604. he seiourning in the Citie of Lille, & hearing what was recounted of the miracles of our Ladie of Montaign, he purposed and vowed to go thether to pray for his health. And he departed which his crutches from Lille at the end of the moneth [Page] of April: and passing by the Citie of Bruxelles, vpon the viij. of May, he set forward on his way towardes the sayd Montaign: and he hath affirmed that so soone as he was departed from Lille, he felt his strength to increace, and perceiued that he went more strongly then he was accustomed. Beeing arriued at Montaign vpon the tenth of the sayd moneth, he settled himself to his deuotions for some dayes at our Ladies Chappel, vntil the twelfth day, vpon which day praying vpon his knees at the tyme of Sal [...]e, he felt his said rupture to mou [...] in his bodie as if a chyld should stirr in his mothers wōb, & once or twise making a noise, it caused in him so great paine that he was forced to cry out, at which cry came to him Sir Barthelmew T [...]chon Chaplain who raised him vp, and standing vpon his feet, he foūd himself whole & cured: insomuch as there he left his crutches, & offered them to our Ladie, walking with out them and any other help whether soeuer he pleased, not feeling any further grief or paine: the rupture withdrawing it self wholy in-to his bodie, without leauing any marck or signe thereof. As [Page] the sayd Iohn Montady avouched and testified solemnly vnder his othe, before the Magistrates of the Citie of Bruxelles, vpō the twentith day of the sayd moneth of May. Vpō which day also appeared before the Magistrates Anthonie Capello citizen of the sayd Citie, who declared and affirmed vnder the like othe, that for the space of two yeares before he had been very wel aquainted with the sayd Iohn Montady, and had holpen him with some almesse: yea & that diuer [...] tymes he had seen his accident of the bi [...]nes of a mannes head, as hath been sayd, at which tyme he went with two crutches, whereas at that present he saw him go without either crutch or staff: and hauing at thesame instant visited the place of the sayd rupture, he found it altogether retyred with-in his bodie, & whole. All which may appeare by the attestation of thesayd Magistrates, signed P. Numan & sealdd with the seale of the sayd Citie.

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How a yong wench was cured of the rupture.

CHristina van Schobeke daughter ofIn May. 1604. the late Christian Schobeke and of Ant [...]ta van VVeghelen his wyfe, dwelling in the Citie of Antwerp, was foūd to haue been brooken on both her sydes, euen from her cradel, and from the tyme that she was but three weekes old. Whereby she had infinit incommodites and paines, & principally in her infācie: in such sorte that to yeeld her some help her parents made her weare a trusse, such an one as is wount to be applyed vnto those that are broken, and she continued thus for eight yeares: to witt, vnto the yeare 1604. At last her mother hauing hard great reporte of the miracles which were wrought by the inuocation of our Ladie of Montaigu she resolued to carrie thither her daughter, & there to pray for her health: the which she did, and beeing arriued at the place, vpon the xix. of Iune in the sayd yeare 1604. they did their deuotions at our Ladies Chappel, and the [Page] mother offered that which by vow she she had promised: & after that she went to wash her daughter with the water that is in the sayd mountain. Vpon the next day (which was Sunday) they continued their prayers & washing as they had dōn the day before, and afterwards beeing come to an Inne to take their refection, the wench began to complain, that she could weare her trusse no longer, and that she felt it much to wring her bodie: which whē her mother heard, she carried her again to the Chappel, there to pray, for her: but so soon as they were entred in, the band or trusse did break in twaine of it self, & fel down to her feet: of the which her mother caused the Pastor to be aduertised by Gertrude VVoest wyfe vnto Iohn Egh [...]s draper dwelling in Antwerp, who was at that present in the Chappel. And so perceiuing that her daughter was healed, she returned with her towards the Citie of Antwerp, & the sayd Christina (beeing but eight yeares old (went six duitch miles on foot without feeling any pain or rupture whereas before her entrailes were wount to come foorth on both sydes vpon neuer so little labor or [Page] wearines, as hath been sayd.

All this which hath been here related was auouched and affirmed vnder her solemn othe by the sayd Ant [...]ne [...] van VVeghelen mother of that broken chyld, before the Magistrates of the sayd Citie vpon the last of Iune in the sayd yeare 1604. Vpon which day also appeared before the sayd Magistrates sister Cicilie Cappels dwelling in the Hospital, and Marie Ma [...] [...]hys widow to VVilliam vanden Bossche who vnder the like othe affirmed and declared that they knew very wel that the said Christina some yeares ago was burst, beeing brought diuers tymes by her mother to the sayd Hospitall of Antwerp to be holpen yf it had beē possible: where she was looked vnto & fitted with her trusse by the sayd Sister Cicilie: the sayd Marie Ma [...] thys affirming that this Christina swith her mother had dwelled in her hows more then eight yeares space, in which tyme she had seen her continually with this rupture, vntil the tyme wherof we haue spokē: & that she was miraculously cured. All this beeing manifest by the attestatiō of the sayd Magistrats of Antwerp, dated as aboue, sealed with the seale of [Page] the sayd Citie, & signed D. Vander Neesen.

How a woman was cured of a Rupture.

GVd [...]la Sc [...]inck widow to one Martin In [...]. 160 [...]. Alart, who in his lyfe tyme was a Notarie in the Citie of Bruxelles, beeing threescore and fiue yeares old so [...]ue two and thirtie yeares before was broken on the right syde, by ouerstrayning her self through lifting vp from the ground a bucket of water, she beeing at that tyme great with chyld: and the rupture came foorth of the bignes of a goose egge, insomuch that she was forced to weare ordinarily a band fitte for such diseases. In which thirtie two yeares space she endured continually grieuous payn, and she applyed thereunto diuers remedies, but yet they little profited her to her cure. At last hauing heard of the miracles which were dayly wrought at Montaigu by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marte, she resolued to go thether in Pilgrimage, with very great hope to recouer her health. And so at S. I [...]h [...]s tyde in this yeare 1604. she caused herself to be carried thether by waggon, and hauing [Page] spent there some dayes in prayer, she found her self so wel, that she left her trusse behynd her, and offered it to our Ladie, & so returned in very good plight to Bruxelles. not feeling any paine or grief afterwardes. Some fower or fiue weekes after that, the sayd Gudula made an other voyage to Montaigu on foot, and returned homeward again on foot the rupture neuer app [...]ring: and so she remaineth perfectly cured, feeling no manner of paine through her former disease: she hauing declared and auouched these things here set down, and that solemnly vnder her othe, before the magistrates of the Citie of Bruxelles, vpon the twelfth of August in the sayd yeare 1604. Vpō which day also appeared Misiris Aga [...]a [...]gers, & Margari [...] do M [...]rod [...], as also A [...]e van Ni [...]z [...]l [...] their mayd, who vnder the lyke othe affirmed and auouched that they knew very wel how that the sayd G [...]d [...]l [...] had been burst as hath been sayd, because she was wount to come often tymes vnto their hows, as also for that they had often visited and assisted her in her malladie, & when she was much tormented with the sayd disease. All which [...] conformable [Page] to the attestation of the sayd Magistrates of the citie of Bruxelles, dated as aboue, and subsigned P. Numan Secretarie.

A very hard disease Cured.

MAster Adrian van Asbrook, swornIn Iu [...]e. 1604. clarck of the Amman office, and of the Criminal court in the Citie of Bruxelles, and Mistris Catharin Verbeke his wyfe, had a chyld called VViliam, who in the yeare 1602. beeing three moneths old became ful of a certain kynd of eating scabbednes, which the phisitions ca [...]l Herpes exeden [...], or corrodens, or exulcerans: in French Feu volaige graz, in English, the wyld fier, and his bodie was spotted therewith in diuers parts and especially, most of all in his face, eares, the top of his head, and in his left arme: his forhead & all his face beeing so ouer spred with scabbes sore wheales & blisters, yeelding foorth a certain corrupt and filthie matter, that there was no place of him free but onely his mouthe, in so much as he seemed to haue his faco al couered ouer [Page] with a hard and i [...] fauourd bark, and therewith al it had a certain kynd of inward gnawing, which was so intol [...]erable, that the chyld stil scratching his face made the blood together with the filthie matter to run out thereof: a thing so hiduous and horrible, that euery one was much abashed to behold it: and thesayd chyld had such continual vehement prickings and pain, that he would not permit any of the hows to rest, either day or night: & he continued in this sorte more then two yeares together: at which tyme his parents caused in [...]init remedies to he applyed vnto him, both by the aduise of Surgeons as of diuers other persons: somtymes of such men or women as took vpon them to cure and heale the lyke accidents: and somtymes of such as had tryed their receiptes either vpon thē sel [...]esor vpon their children: and those persons were not onely of the Citie of Bruxelles, but also of other Cities neer about, as of Antwerp, and M [...]clm: from whence diuers sent vnto them sundrie receiptes, wherby an hundreth and an hundreth persons had been holpen: yea such as had indured the disease twentie [Page] yeares together. But they found no remedie or amendment at all, in all the care & diligēce that euer was employed. And thi [...] accident became so great and incurable, that it did eat away not only the skinne, but also the very flesh to the bone, which they beheld often quyte bare, both in his armes, as about the temples of his head, insomuch that the parents were not without feare that the disease would turn into a leproesie. And they considering how that no help or inuention of man could profit them, they took their recourse to the mercie of God, and to the assistance and gracious fauour of the glorious Virgin Marie. And hereupon this Asbrook and his wyfe went with their chyld to Montaigu vpon the fyue & twenteth of I [...]ne, in the yeare 1604. & hauing donne their deuotions for somedayes at the Chappel of our Ladie, home they came again to Bruxelles, not perceiuing that the malladie was any whit amended. Notwithstanding stil confiding in God, and in the assistence of the glorious Virgin Marie his blessed Mother, they applyed vnto him afterwardes no other remedie or medicin nor any of the receipes [Page] which they were wount to vse about him: leauing the chyld euen as he was, yet after a whyle they began to see and perceiue how that since the sayd visitation of our Ladie the sayd chyld began daylie to wax whole, and that all the scabbes botches and blisters went away of themselues, without any exterior help, insomuch that at the end of fifteen or twentie dayes, the disease was quyte gone, the holes and open sores were healed vp, and the chyld was cured: and his skin and flesh throughout all his bodie both on his face neck eares as other parts became so faire and clean as of any chyld in the world, no sputtes or scarres remaining afterwards, as was manifestly seen vpon the day when this was dated. And all that here hath been sayd was auouched and verified vnder their solemn othes in presence of the Magistrates of the Citie of Bruxelles vpō the twelfth of August in the sayd yeare 1604. by the sayd Maister Adrian van Asbrook, his wyfe, Francis van Asbrook his daughter: Maister Iohn H [...]l lieftenant to the Aman of the sayd Citie, and by Helena randen Eeckhout wyfe of Iohn Mosselman? who all affirmed to haue seen [Page] the sayd chyld in so miserable a plight as hath been sayd: yea that they had seen diuers tymes how the flesh was eaten away euen to the very bones: and the sayd Helēa declared moreouer that she had endeuoured for the space of six moneths or more to cure this chyld, and that with such remedies wherewith she had holpen aboue an hundreth persons, & yet in this she could no whit amēd him. There appeered allo vpon the same day before the sayd Magistrates Arnold Add [...]ers vnder Bourgue master of the sayd Citie of Bruxelles, the Ladie Marie de Caro [...]delet, widow of the late Lord de Chassegn [...]es the Ladie Catharin de Carondelet, widow of the late Coronel Bostock, Mistris Marg-rit de Bock [...]out, wyfe of Coronel Balthazar van Rossum Mystris Agatha Reygers, Mistris Margarit de Merode. and Maister Lewi [...] VVinno [...]x. Surgeon, all dwelling in the same Citie: who auouched vnder the lyke othe that they had sundry tymes seen the sayd chyld in such miserable state as before hath been declared, they hauing administred vnto him all the receptes and remedies that they could deuise, and yet without any help or profit at all. And how that someweekes [Page] after the sayd pilgrimage of our Ladie, they found him throughly whole, and so perfectly cured as yf he neuer had been touched with any euil in the world. All which is manifestly to be seen by the attestation of the Magistrates of the sayd citie, dated as aboue, and signed P. Nu [...] Secretarie.

A lame hand cured.

IOhn Courto [...]s Commissarie of theirIn [...]. 1604. Highneses, dwelling in the Citie of Antwerp some fifteen yeares ago beeing in the Lordship of Hoghstrate in the [...]ē pinia was vpon a day wounded in the right hand hard by the wrist, with a blow of a sword, by which blow which passed through half his arme his sinewes were cut in twain: and about the same place he had receiued also a thrust. Whyle these hurtes were in curing it happened that the wyld fyer entred into thesame arme, and it was inflamed therewith euen to the arme-pitt, wherevpon the Surgeons resolued that the arme should be cu [...] of, or els the hurt [Page] man should lose his life: but he would neuer consent thereunto, rather chusing to dy then to be brought vnto that extremitie, and thereupon calling▪ vpō the ayd and help of the Virgin Marie he vowed to make a pilgrimage to our Ladie of Hall. After which vow within the space of fower or fyue dayes he recouered in such sorte his strength & health, that he arose out of his bed, got on horseback, and so came to Antwerp feeling daily his arme much amended: from Antwerp he went on foot to the sayd town of Hall and there accomplished his promis, & so recouered the intiere cure of his sayd arme saue onely that it was lame on the three last fingers and on the thumb, his hād remayning crooked and his fingers stiffe. And vpon the fourteenth of Iuly in the yeare 1604 he going to Montaigu there to offer his honour & prayers to our Ladie he put himself in the state of grace, cōmunicated, & after some Masses he was presēt at the processiōin which the mirac [...]lous Image was carryed round about the Chappel, & so beseeching our Lord moste instan [...]ly and his glorious Mother that he might be cured of the sayd lamenes of [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] his hand, he gaue his beades to the Priest to touch the Image therewith, which the Priest did, who restoring them again vnto him he with great confidence receiued them with his sayd lame hand, the which euen by the very touching of thesayd beades he perceiued to bee forthwith cured beeing able to moue & shutt it as he could haue donne before that he became lame: and from that tyme his sayd hand continued very wel, & it serue [...]h him as fittly as dothe the other. All this he himself declared and auouched vnder his solemn othe, before the Magistrates of the Citie of Antwerp, vpon the fourth of August 1604. vpon which day also apeared Master Paul van Assel [...]rs, Eschoutet of the sayd Citie, and Mistris Ioane▪ Courto [...]s his wyfe, who vnder the lyke [...]e assured & witnessed that [...] kne [...] [...] wel that the sayd Iohn [...] [...]rother was some fifteen [...]es be [...]ame of his right hand, in [...] manner as before we haue declared, and how that after the sayd voyage to Montaigu he was cured, and now hath the vse of his sayd right hand as wel as of the left, the which was neuer hurt. All which [Page] is conformable to an attestation of thesayd Magistrates of Antwerp dated as aboue, subsigned D. vander Neesen, and sealed with the seale of the sayd Citie.

The cure of a Rupture or Hernia.

ELizabeth VVouters alias [...]ens Beguyne [...]n [...]e [...] [...]. in the Beguinage of the town of Diest, in the yeare 1601 drawing water out of a wel she vsed such force that she burst herself on both sydes, where the rupture first apeared of the bignes of a turkies egge and afterward of a mannes fist, in somuch that she was constrained to weare a trusse induring often tymes much paine, and sometymes she kept her bed for the space of one two or three moneths together▪ and although she had vsed many medicines & remedies, yet for all that, she felt no amēdmēt. Finally cō sidering that she [...]on̄d no help by humaine meanes, and fearing withal that this disease would hinder her from beeing admitted to her professiō in the Beguinage, for so much as she was as yet in her yeare of probation, she took her refuge to the [Page] Mother of God: and in the yeare 1604. (hauing endured this accident for the space of almoste fower yeares) she purposed to go three tymes to visit our ladie at Montaigu to the end she might obtaine thereby her health. And so vpon the e [...]e of S. Marie Magdalen, to witt, vpō the one and twentith of Iuly in the sayd yeare, she made her first Pilgrimage, & she felt some amendment: vpon the day next following the sayd feast she returned the second tyme, and hauing ended her deuotiō at the Chappel and going down the hil towards Diest where she dwelt, it happened that the point wherewith her [...]russe was tyed on the right syde, broke of it self, notwithstanding that it was both strong and new, which when she had perceiued she mended it & tyed it againe, and so went on somwhat forward in her way: but by and by againe she beeing not yet at the bottom of the hill the other point on the left syde did break, which likewise was new, & this did neuer so happen vnto her before. Whereat beeing much amazed, & thinking with herself that our Lord had bestowed some grace and fauour vpon her [Page] she returned in haste toward our Ladies Chappel, & settled herself again to her prayers. In which place she felt herself so wel that taking from her bodie her trusse she left it there for a memorie. And from that day she found herself perfectly whole and cured of her rupture, not feeling afterwards any grief or hindrance thereby. Whereupon she returned on the morrow following for the third time in way of thanks-giuing, and caused a masse to be sayd, praised God and the glorious virgin Marie who had obtained for her this fauour. All which was declared by the sayd Flizabeth vpon the fourteenth of October in the sayd yeare 1604 in the presence of Master Haymo Timermans Pastor of the sayd Beguinage Sir Michiel VVouters, and Lambert Bouwe [...], Chaplanes as witneses, and Mistris Catharin Maes Begu [...] of the sayd place in Diest, with whome the sayd Elizabeth VVouters doth dwel. And vpon the twentith of the sayd moneth of October the sayd Elizabeth appearing before the magistrates of the town of Diest did sweate vpon her profession that all the premisses were true. And vnder the like othe haue witnessed [Page] the same, first Mistris Cat [...]rin that she knew right wel that this Elizabeth was burst, and had often kept her bed, hauing liued with her for the space of two whole yeares. And A [...]ne Sher [...]gen a Beguine, lykewise affirmed that the sayd Elizabieh had sworn the truthe which shee knew for that she had accompanied her in the foresayd Pilgrimage to Mo [...]taig [...]. All which is euident by the attestation of the Magistrates of Diest, dated as aboue, subsigned P. van Zille, and▪ sealed with the seale of the sayd town.

How a yong man that was borne lame, and of a monstrous shape was cured.

IOhn Clement the sonne of Iames ofIn [...]. [...]. the Citie of Lucerna in Zuitzerland, beeing at this present three and twēty yeares of age or thereabout, came into this world with a verie deformed and imperfect shape, hauīg his legges wholy fastned against his bodie, and his knees thrust so fast against his breast, that non [...] could so much as put a [...]i [...]ger betwixt [...], from the tyme of his birth vnto [Page] the tyme of his cure. Moreouer his thighes and the calfes of his legges were tastned together and couered vnder one flesh & [...]kinne, together, with his belly and breast: insomuch that he could not stretch out his legges in any sorte. And as some Germaines told him (who had heard it from his Father) that his Mother dyed in her trauaile of him, and she was cutt vp and opened to saue the chyld, His father feeing this his defect and disproportion indeuo [...]red by al meanes in his chyldhood to help and cure him: & for this effest caused him to be caried to diuers bathes both in highe Germanie as also in the kingdome of Hungarie, and yet could he obtaine no help. It happened in the yeare 1594 (at what tyme Er [...]estus Archduke of Austria was gouernour of the low Cuntries) that a certain noble mā of the kingdome of Pol [...]nia called [...]ob [...]as Metzka hauing a desyre to see the low Cuntries and other prouinces, admitted the father of the sayd Iohn Clement into his seruice, to serue him as an interpreter, because he was skilful in sundrie languages, for so much as he had followed the warres in diuers Cuntries: & so thesayd [Page] Iohn Clement was carried by his father amongst this noble-mannes baggage: & coming neere to the Citie of B [...]isleduke, he fel sick in a village called Vlyemen: in so much as his Father beeing constrained to passe forward with his Lord was forced to leaue him there, vntil such tyme as he recouered, deliuering him some money for his entertainement. Hauing dwelt in this village for the space of fifteen moneths, and beeing at last restored to his health, he was sent for by his Father to come to Bruxelles, where the sayd Lord T [...]bias Metzka as the [...] remained.

Whereupō he set himself on the way towardes his Father: but vnderstanding how that there were certain famous bathes neere to the Citie of Aken, he caused himself first to be carryed thether, that he might haue the vse of them as he passed by, to trie yf he might fynd any help against his euill, and so he remained for three weekes at the bathes of Boursset neere to the sayd citie: but for all this he receaued no ease at all thereby. And from thence continuing his iourney forward towards [...]r [...]lles he found that his father (beeing sent into France by the sayd Lord [Page] Metzka about some busines) had fallen into the hands of certain theeues and robbers by whome he was murdred. Whereupon he remained in Bruxelles entertaining himself for the space of two or three moneths, partly with the mo [...]ey which his father had left him and partly by the almesse which certaine gentlemē and others had giuen him. After this by boat he went to An [...]werp, where lykewyse he liued by that which charitable people bestowed vpon him, for so much as he was not able to gaine his liuing by reason of his lamenes, and the want of his limnes. Whyle he liued after this mā net in An [...]werp certain Holland mariners (who were at that tyme there) asked him yf he would go with them, they would carrie him to a place where he should be wel entertained, & haue good meanes to lyue, Who consenting thereunto was carried by them to the Citie of D [...]rt, where he lodged in a stret called den Crommē Ellebege in the hows of Iohn de Spellemaker, and from thence he went to R [...]tterdam and so to many other Cities of Holland, as Delf, Leyden, Harlem, and the Haghe, alwayes going vpon his hands with two [Page] litle stiltes of a hand bredth or half a foot in heigth, touching onely the earth with the toppe of his feet which did hang before his bodie, & they were verie little; & his legges not three inches thick vnder his knees, and after this sorte had he gon all the dayes of his lyfe. Whyle he was in the sayd town of Haghe he dwelt for the space of a yeare in the hows of a Scotish-man who was a labourer vnto briclayers, dwelling in a place called opde [...] geest, & in this hows he did ly in a cradle for so much as when he did ly in a bed (hauing no vse either of his feet or legges and for that his bodie was round lyke a bowle) he did ordinarily tumble down to the beddes feet. From hence he went by boat to many other townes of Holland, as also of Ze [...]ad; as Flushing, Camfere, Arm [...], & Middelborow, where he lodged at a hows of a widow called Marie d'Ostend, who dwelled behynd the Princes court. Also in the Citie of Breda, where he lodged in a widows hows that sold small wares, called Catharin, dwelling at Mō [...]e-uelt neet to the prison: he was also in Berges vpon Zoa [...], and whereas betwixt this town & Ter [...]le there was a forte vpon the water [Page] wherein there serued certain Almans in garrison, he found the meanes to enter into their acquaintāce, because he spake their language, in which place he liued on free cost for a tyme: which was in the yeare 1596. at which tyme the Archduke Albert (who at this present is our Prince) besieged the Citie of Hulst. Vpon a day he beeing gon out of this forte, and going with his hand-stilts to a farme hows in the cuntrie to beg his victualles, the Coūt Maurice de Nassow accompanied with the Count of Hollach and others, chanced to passe that way, with certain waggons, and the sayd Count Maurice seeing him so monsterous & miserable, demaunded of him whence he was, and how he fell into that impotencie, and hauing heard the particularities, he gaue him some fower or fiue peeces of gold in almes, and they were french crownes so farre as he can wel remember; in lyke manner the Count of Hollach gaue him some peeces of siluer, and the sayd Count Maurice commaunded him to cause himself to be carried to the Haghe, promising to prouide him of some entertainement: & although he went thether afterwards [Page] yet he made no great [...]ute for the sayd entertainement, but rather liued of that which those [...]arles had giuen him and of that which daylie he receaued of good people. And so going from one Citie to an other in Holland for the space of two yeares and a half or there about, at last he came to the Citie of V [...]g [...]t, where he lay at a place called Op [...] Sant in the hows of one Elizabeth van Dor [...]: and as he there frequented certain Catholiks, they couseled him not to stay in Holland where Heretickes commaunded, but rather eo return to B [...]uxelles from whence he came: & that there he might fynd how to liue, and better meanes of entertainement, both for his corporal lyfe, as for the exercise of his faith: and religion, by the good assistance of the gentilitie and other good persons in that Citie. Which admonition was of that force with him, that he following their counsel, resolued to return thithe [...] ▪ and thereupon he caused himself to [...]e carryed to the Cities of Bour [...]l, He [...]sden, and the aboue-named village of vli [...]n, and at length to the Citie of B [...]isse duke, where the Curate of S. [...]s vpon charitie entertained him for [Page] the space of a whole winter. And the winter beeing ended, he procured that he might be carried by waggon to the Citie of Gr [...], and to Venlo, and from thence he came to VVaghtendo [...]ck whereof the Lord of Gelain had the commaunderie, who nourished and entertained him for the space of six moneths Afterwards the sayd Iohn Clement made himself to be carryed to Aken, where again both in the same town as also in the aforsayd Boursset, he vsed the baths for nyne or ten dayes together, but yet nothing aduanced his cure thereby. From thēce passing by Maestright. T [...]ngres, and other Cities, he came to Bruxelles: where he made his stay, entertaining himself vpon almes, and by cutting little wooden crosses & tooth-pickers which he sold. His limmes stil remaining in the same monstrousnes and disproportion as they were euen at the beginning, creeping vpon his hands with his little stilts vpon the ground as hath been sayd, sittyng daylie at the foot of the staires which moūt vp to the Princes pallais, where for many yeares together, thowsands and thowsands, of people haue seē & known [Page] him in the a foresayd plight, and assisted him with their alm [...]s, as they passed by. At last in the yeare 1601, certain persons of the sayd Citie moued through charitic and compas [...]on towards him, found meanes to haue him learn the art of painting, that there with in tyme [...]o come he might goine his liuing: & this was donne by the assistance of the Almoners of the Church of S. Iames in C [...]berghe and by other charitable people, procuring him moreouer that she should haue in certain howses euerie day a meales meate, Hauing been therefore about some two yeares & a half in the hows of Anthony vā der [...] painte [...], to learne that art, and hearīg oftē the miracles recoūted which by the intercessiō of the glorious mother of God were wrought at Montaigu, he had a desyre to go lykewise thether in pilgrimage, and to offer his prayers to the V [...] gi [...] Marie that she would procure him the cure of his bodie, or at leastwyse that he might go with two crutches, or rather that [...]e might haue some better vse of his limmes, and that he might not be forced stil to draw them a long the g [...]oūd as to that tyme he had donne▪ whereunto [Page] also diuers of his frends exhorted him. And about some two moneths before he took vpon him this iourney lying at that tyme in the prince of Orange his stable, twyse in one night, either in vision or in sleep, he thought that he had been at [...]onta [...]g [...], and that he could haue stood vpright vpon his feet, which did breed in him a greater desyre and deuotion to go thither thē before: & so he asked leaue of his Maister, who [...]erie willingly yeelded thereunto. But whylest he was in doubt by what way or meanes he might go thether, by reason of his vnablenes, soone after an occasion was offered: for that Michiel vander Hage [...] keeper of the wyne-seller in their Highnesses pallais in the sayd Citie of Brux [...]lles had receiued some store of wynes from Cullen: whereupon the sayd vander Hagen commended him to the carters, that when they returned they would take him vp into one of their emptie cartes. and so carrie him to the town of Diest: which they did, vpon the third of Iuly in the yeare 1604. and they lodged that night at the Emperour in the Citie of Lo [...]ain: and vpon the next day following they took their way to [Page] D [...], together with the sayd lame yongman. And beeing come to a certain place called H [...]l [...]rb [...]s, where the way of Montaigu is deuided from that of Diest, the carter that had brought him thether took him down, thinking that he would easely haue foūd out the way, and so forwards towards Diest they wēt with their cartes: but after they had gon awhyle on their way one of the sayd carters called Laure [...] D [...]er in wardly moued with cōpassion, and fearing that God would punish them for their little charitie vsed towards this miserable creature who (beeing not able to go but onely creeping with his little hand-stil [...]s) might fall in daunger to be deuoured by wolues, dogs, or other wyld beastes, he felt so great a remorse of cōscience, that he speedily returned with his cart, and hauing found him almost in the place where they left him, vp he set him again, and carried him to Diest to the Inne of the Swan: as the same carters beeing afterwards returned with new loding to Bruxelles declared to diuers persons of credit. Vpon the day following which was moonday and the fift of Iuly) in the morning the host of the [Page] swan [...]ured that he should be carried to the Chappel of our Ladie at Montaigu, where beeing entred into a certain lodging or cottage, the master of the hows as he beheld him in this monsterous and strange shape, beeing much amazed thereat, begā to say that he much woundred that such an one as he would come thether vpon any hope to be cured: not for that he doubred of the power of God, but because it seemed vnto him a thing verie extraordinarie to obtain the cure of so admirable an accident. For all this the sayd Iohn Clement went incontinently to the Chappel, where he heard two or three masses, after he went to confession and communicated, and about an hower after he had communicated he began to feel a saddenes and feeblenes at his hart, and withal certain grieuous & excessiue paine in all the partes of his bodie, in so much that the sweat issued out of him euen from his head down to his feet: and thincking to go out of the Chappel to take the ayre he became much weaker: whereupon he returned and remained in prayer all that day. In the mean whyle his paines increased continually vntil [Page] the euening after the Sal [...], at what tyme beeing before the altar of our Ladie in his deuotions, he felt himself inuisibly lift vp from the ground, & his legges which before were fixed & fastned to his bodie and shrouded within his dublet as hath been sayd, fel down, and of themselues violently opened the sayd dublet, and so he found himself standing vpright vpon his feet, wherea [...] he was much astonished, and ceased not to prayse God and his holy mother for the mercie that was shewed to his vnwoorthinesse. And as he happened to be somwhat faint in this alteration, he fel with his handes against the altar, but was holpen by those that were there present and placed in the confession seat, whylest they brought him some apparel, and especialy breeches, because at what tyme his legges fell down & that his dublet was opened by force, in lyke forte that peece of cloth wherewith he was wont to couer his bodie below and whereupon he did vs [...] to sitt, was torne in peeces also. Moreouer at the same instant the sayd Ioh [...] Cl [...] [...] was healed of a wound in his head, which he had gotten some fifteen dayes [Page] before, and was not healed vntil that very tyme, hauing at his departure from Brux [...]les brought with him six plaisters to applie thereunto, the which at the very self same tyme was found so wel & perfectly cured and healed, that there was no need that any should put their hand thereunto. And all this happened in the presence of many persons, who came frō diuers places, and can beare wittnesse of this suddaine and vnexpected cure. A litle whyle after, the sayd Iohn Clement was was led (by two or three persons for so much as he was very weak) to the Inne of the Angel, going vpright vpon his legges and feet, which he was neuer able to do in al his lyfe before: feeling a certain force and vigor to discend incontin [...]tly into his legges, yea and a certain augmentation thereof. And the host of the aforesayd Inne repenting himself of his forme [...] opinion, took foorthwith the mesure of the legges of the sayd lame youth, & some two howers after he measured them again & he foūd that betwixt the tyme of the first and second measuring, his legges were grown bigger and grosser by three inches: and after that tyme they began to [Page] [...]spy his she [...]es and vai [...]e [...] to appeare in his legges, which were neuer seen there before▪ And so leauing his sayd h [...]dstil [...]s in the Chappel for a memorie, he resolued to stay there for the space of nyne dayes, going dayly to the sayd Chappel, and there hearing diuine seruice: walking the first two dayes with a staffe, but on the other dayes without either staff o [...] other help. A day or two after the sayd cure this Iohn Clement hauing got a clean shert, and looking vpon the place [...] where his legges did hang from his bodie he found that the holes and pittes within the which his knees did rest and hang against his breast, began to be filled vp with flesh, & where his thighes were fastned there the cullour was as red as blood▪ & it put him to paine at what tyme so euer he touched it▪ but after a little whyle all this payn passed away. And during the tyme that he remained at Montaigu he was visited by diuers persons from Diest (who before had seen him so miserably lame [...]nd deformed) and now saw him go vpright: and amongst others he was twis [...] visited by Count Fr [...]derik vanden Berghe, to his great admiration at so notable a miracle. [Page] And vpon the fifteenth▪ of Iuli [...] he returned by waggon to Bruxelles, at the entrance of which citie he went some part of the way on foot vntil he came to the Church of the Co [...]berge, where [...] De [...] was sung and thancks geuen to God for this maruelous woork, which it pleased him to woork in this perso by the interoession of his holy Mother. And vpon the eighteenth of the sayd moneth, this Iohn Clement was present with [...] whyte wax taper in his hand at the procession of the Holy Sacrament of miracle, the which is yearely made vpon that day: & he walked vpright before the blessed Sacrament in the sight of many thowsāds of people who at that tyme were in the sayd Gi [...]ie of Bruxelles, yet he went but a part of the way because he was yet weak and with payn in his legges, wherein he felt a continuall stretching, and an inward working in his snewes and vaines, his legges and feet still growing, & howerly increasing both in flesh and strength. Vpon the same day beeing sent for to appeare before the right reuerend Father in God, the Archbishops grace of Maclin, who at that tyme was in the same Citie, all [Page] the contene [...] hereof were read v̄nto him, the which vnder a solemn othe he affirmed to be true, in the presence of the sayd Lord Archbishop, of M. P [...]er Vi [...]cki [...]s D [...]n [...] of the Christianitie of Bruxeller, Master Theodore [...] Dean of the Christianitie of Al [...]s [...], Master Iames de Sasseg [...], & Master Martin [...] Chaplaine [...] to the sayd lords grace, also of Master [...] drossard of Cocuord and Master Herman [...] E [...] his brother. And vpon the nyne and twentith day of thesayd moneth of [...] the same Iohn Clement appeared before the whole court of the Magistrates of the Citie of Bruxelles, where in the presence of the Bourgema [...]ers, Escheuins, Receauers & Counsel of the sayd Citie, Collegially assembled, h [...] [...]ouched again vnder his solemn [...]the all that we haue here related: thesame hauing been once more read vnto him by the Secretarie.

And vpon the same day appeared before this assembly Master VVilliam de C [...]ni [...]ck [...] inhabitant of the Citie of Bruxelles, and practitioner of phisick and surgerie, who after they had shewed vnto him this Iohn [...], he affirmed and declared vnder [Page] the lyke othe that some three year [...] [...]nd a half past [...] there about going with his wyf towards the Court or the Princes Pallace in the sayd Citie, he found him [...]itting [...] the foot of the staires there, and considering how strangely he was lame and impotent, he had a desire to behold more particulerly his accident, and thesayd Iohn Clement vnbuttening his dublet & shewing vnto him his bodie, the sayd master VVilliam found that his legges (which were very little and slender) did hang against his bodie and that his knees were thrust & made fast against his breast he saw moreouer (for that he had curiousely searched him with his hands) that his thighes and calfes of his legges did grow all vnder one flesh and s [...]m together to his bellie, and the forepar [...]e of his bodie against which parte his sayd thighes were [...]astned: and his feet did hang right down to the ground, the sayd Iohn Clement, hauing standing hard by him two litle stiltes where with he did help himself as he went vpon his hands, [...]nd so he giuing vnto him an almesse and the best comfort he could, departed and went forward on his way▪ There appeared also on the same [Page] day and in the same place Master Anthony [...]ander Mercu Painter, who vnder the lyke othe declared that for the space of some eight and twenty moneths the sayd Iohn Clement had learned vnder him the arte of paintīg in which tyme he had caused him twyce or thryse to open his dublet, and to shew him his bodie thereby to see his defect: and he had found that his thighes were fast in one flesh and skinne with his bodie, & that he could not moue his legges, but onely that he could open and seperate the one leg a litle frō the other, setting or laying them toward the one or other arme-pit, and that he neuer went but vpon his hands with his two little stiltes of wood. Moreouer there appeared at the same hower and place Iohn de Grieck who learned to paint of this Master Anthony, and also vnder his othe affirmed, that during the tyme that the sayd Iohn Clement was his fellow prentice, they had been twyse at two seueral tymes at the riuer called la Senne to wash and bathe themselues (the lame youth alwayes holding fast to the b [...]nck of the riuer,) and thereby he had seen his naked bodie, and perfectly beheld that his thighes and [Page] calfes of his legges were fastened vnder the same flesh & skinne against his bellie and breast, so that he could not stretch out his legges. At the same tyme also appeared before the sayd assembly of those magistrates Michie [...] Hardy painter dwelling in the same citie, who vnder a solemn othe declared that he had wrought for some tyme in the hows of Master Anthony with the same Iohn Clement, whome he knew to haue been so lame and impotent that he could not go but onely vpon his hāds with two litle stiltes. And how that fower or fyue tymes he had been with him at the riuer to wash themselues: vpon which occasion he had seen his naked bodie, and wel and perfectly marked and considered that his legges (especially about his thighes) were fast and fastened to his bodie before with the self same flesh and skinne, his leggs hanging down his bodie, euen as a womans pappes hang from her breast, in such sort that he could neuer stretch them foorth, the which he had marked diuers tymes. There appeared also vpon the same day & in presence of the aforesayd Magistrates Catharin de Tournay the wyfe of Andrew van Zeele dwel ling [Page] in the sayd Citie, who lykewise affirmed & declared vnder her othe that thesayd Iohn Clemēt had lodged for some monethes in her hows, during which tyme she had seen three or fower tymes his legges, & she had foūd that they were fast, & hanged from his bodie: his thighes hauing but one flesh and skinne with his bellie and brest, insomuch that he could not stretch them forth: whereupon he was forced to walk and creep vpon his hands, holding two little stilkes of wood, as verie often she had seen him. Vpon thesame day also appeared before the sayd Magistrates Francis le Feb [...]re, wyfe of Frācis van Schut [...]epit, painter, who vnder thelyke othe affirmed and testified that the sayd Iohn Clemēt had lodged in her hows for the space of fower or fiue moneths: lying in a hutch or chest wherein they had made bread: in which tyme she had at two sundrie tymes seen and perfectly beheld his legges which were verie smalle and [...]lender, and hanged hard to his bodie, & his thighes were fastened to his bellie with the self same flesh & skinne, so that he could not possibly stretch them foorth at length. Declaring moreouer that vpon [Page] the fifth of [...] in this yeare 1604. shee came from Bruxelles to Montaigu, and that after dinner vpon the same day that this Iohn Clement arriued there in the morning from Diest, and whereas he was miraculously healed that verie euening, she with some others ayded and assisted him in his necessities, affirming that immediately after his cure he withdrawing himself a syde, shewed vnto her the peeces of skin which remained hanging from his bodie about the places where his thighes had been fastned, as hath been sayd, he inquiring of her whether he should cut them away or not: whereupon she answered him that he should let them remaine there still, expecting what God would dispose thereof. And vpon the second day of August in the same yeare 1604▪ there appeared before the Magistrates of the Citie of Louain Iohn de Socthem, the host of the Inne at the signe of the Emperour in the sayd Citie, who vnder his solēn othe declared and auouched how that vpon the third of Iuly in the same yeare through the commendations of Mychael vander Hagen, a certain young man that was mō sterously deformed called (as he vnderstood) [Page] Iohn Clement came to lodge in his hows whome when he saw to be so monsterous and deformed in his limmes that he went vpon his hands with two little stil [...]es, he desired to see his accident, and hauing made him to open his d [...]blet the sayd host found that the legges of the lame youth were not past three inches thick, so far as he could remēber (whose legges not-with-stāding at this present are more then fourteen inches about) & that they were fast and hanged by his thighes against his brest and bellie, and were so farre thrust in & that with a certain kynd of hollownes that none could put his hand, no not so much as his finger betwixt, and that his knees did ly against his brest & were couered with the skin of his b [...]est as he had seen and felt them with his hands. Affirming moreouer that as this serche was made in the presence of the carters who had brought him from Bruxelles, they made a mockery that thesayd lame fellow would goe to Montaigu with any hope that our Ladie would obtaine any cure for him: telling and persuading him that it was a friuolous matter: yet for all this he continuing in his [Page] good purpose, procured himself on the next day following to be conuayed to Diest and from thence to Montaigu as hath been sayd. All these prem sses beeing manifest by the attestations & publik wrytings both of the Citie of Bruxelles, subsigned P. Numan Secretarie, as also of I [...]o [...]atn subsigned R. de Prince Secretarie, dated respectiuely vpon the xxix. of Iulie, and the second of August 1604. and sealed with the s [...]ales of the sayd Cities.

Wel here I must needes call vpon you (Christian brethren) who vnder pretēce of following a reformed Religion, haue left the assured foot-steppes of your forefathers, and that royal way wherein so many Martyrs and Confessors, so many holy Bishops and Doctors, so many Priestes, E [...]emites, Monke, and Religious people, and so many honorable soules haue walked: whose moste holy memories yet replenish the world. You (I say) that haue forsaken the liuely fountaine & haue digged to your selues stincking pittes and cesternes, who h [...]e left the fat & fertil pastures of the auncient Churche, and raunge vp and down the barren de [...]ettes of your own nouelties, and who in [Page] ste [...]d of eatyng the delicious frute of the tree of lyre, gnaw on the dry bark of your subtil though vain inuentions. Behold the glorious brightnes of the Catholik Churche: and withal behold the place of our own abode, and consider with your selue [...], yf you haue not forsaken the hows of God, & haue not gone to adore in Bethel and Galgal [...], there to serue the Idol [...] of ou [...] own obstinate opinion [...]: wherby you persuade your selues, that for the space of a thowsand yeares & more, there hath been no faith or right beleef or true churche in the world, wherein the fathful might hope or procure their saluation: but that all was depraued corrupted and marred vntil some fiftie or threescore yeares ago, whē first forsooth was brought in the reformation & heauenly light, contrary to the woord of our Lord who sayd when he first planted his Church, that the gates (to witt, all the power and pollicie) of hel, should neuer preuaile against it. Faith welbeloued is not as a proclamation or as a text of the ciuil law, which euery one may explicate and interpret at his pleasure, and which may bee altered & realtered vpon [Page] euery occasion, & according to the diuer sities of tymes. Faith is the marck wherewith euery one must present himself before his eternal Iudge at the last dreadful day, yf you be defectiue herein, there shalbe graunted you no appeal, you shal neuer after be able to remedie or repaire the fault, but all shal be quyte lost for all eternitie. O terrible eternitie o dreadful word, O incomprehensible eternitie, O infinit depth and profunditie either for weal or wo, either for glorie or paine, and yet you make no more difficultie to change your faith and religion then one would make to change his shert or co [...]t What assurance, what testimonie, what proof, haue you of your pretended reformation? In the Catholik Apostolik Romain Churche we haue the markes of the true & sincere doctrine, we haue the assured seales of the truthe: miracles (I say) the heauenely [...]estifications and impressions of the souerame hand of Almighty, God. Whome ought one rather to beleeue, the chatting of a babling tongue, fortified with nothing els but the credit and tradition of one c [...]ept out of the shel but yesterday, and the antiquitie of half a [Page] hūdred yeares, or rather those who teache a doctrin of sixteen hundrèd yeares old, and the woords of those which wee see daylie to be confirmed by certain admirable supernatural woorkes of almighty God, who doth vouchsafe vs thē. These are the true proofs vnto which our lord referred the Iews when they would not beleeue him. Vnto these proofs, vnto these woorks (Sirs) we remitt you in lyke manner: consider here the hand of God, beleeue heerby that the true Church is not perished & decayed, as you dreame, and withal vnderstand, how you haue embraced darknes in steed of the truthe it self: I know that the hoatest & flelshliest companions amongst you wil say that all this is but coosenage, forcerie, and the woork of the deuil: but this was & is the old song of the Iewes heretikes and pag [...]s, against the Christian & Catholik Church in euery age, when you shal be able to do somuch be it by what force or vertue soeuer, we wil also make esteeme of your argument: in the meane whyle you shal contēt your self with the answere which our Lord gaue to the sayd Iewes whenMat 12. Ma [...] 1. Luc. [...]. they in lyke sorte reproched him: for [Page] thereby the euer-lasting wisdome of God thought that he had giuen a sufficient solution for such an ob [...]ection. But I beseech you (bretheren) lay asyde for a whyle the fume of your passions which transporte you. Enter into your own consciences, and ponder with your selues yf you haue not occasion to thinck that we walk in the right way of the truthe (seeing that God yeeldeth such a [...]ple proofs and [...]n̄firmations thereof amōgst vs) and that you are in danger to [...]cu [...]e the perdition of your own soule, and of your euerlasting saluation. Can it be possible that all these admirable things can be the woork of the deuil? Cā he restore the sight to the blynde? the hearing to the deaf? is he able to cure the afflicted with the palsey? in a momēt to make the canckers, botches, and other incurable diseases to vanish away? Hath he the power to creat new limmes, flesh and blood in the bodies of creatures? as you may see in the cure of the lame youth of three and twenty yeares old, who had no legges to walk vpon. Truly yf his power could reach vnto this, he had dōne it many ages ago, and so the true miracles of our Sauiour [Page] and of his Apostles should haue had no force to woork the conuersion of the Gentils, but all would haue been turned into vanitie and ridiculous foolerie, when the deuil should haue donne as much for his own parte, as Christ and his Apostles had donne for their doctrine, that so the world should not haue been conuerted, which he held vnder his tyrannicall yoke. No it is too grosse an error to haue such a cogitation, and it maketh that miserable damned creature equal to the souerain God of heauen. And what commoditie could this sworn enimie of mankynd draw out of this his proceedings: Is it lykely that he wil do any thing whereby the world should be incited the more to honour and serue God; beare reuerence to the Virgin Maric: and adict it self to works of vertue and sanctitie? Is there any man in his right wittes that doth beleeue this? It is no other, it is no other (frendes) but the woork and▪ mercie of God, who in these latter dayes amongst so many shelues and rockes of errors setteth before vs a Pharus or Beacon, a light from heauen, a Cynosura or celestial star, an infallible [Page] mark by the stedfast contemplation whereof we are to direct the course of our nauigation in this lyfe, yf we wil not vtterly perish. It appertaineth vnto vs to yeeld him infinit thancks for the same, and in such sorte to frame our liues that he wil vouchsafe to continue & increase towards vs this his mercie, It is your duty (brethren) to open your eyes and to behold the sunne which ryseth so brightly shyning, for yf (notwithstanding all this light) you wil perseuer in the obscure night of your darcknes, you shalbe iudged inexcusable, and are lyke one day to feel the terrible and heauy hand of the Almighty vpon you for the same.

The Cure of a flux of long continuance.

In Aug. 1604.

SIster Marie Heyt [...]eyers a Conuers Religious woman of the Cloister of Herkenroy in the Coūtie of Loon, in the cuntrie of Liege, was taken with a flux which continued without cease for the space of more then a yeare & a half, in somnch that shee kept her bed for a long tyme. For the remedie whereof shee vsed first [Page] the counsel of the mistris of the infirmarie, and of other relig [...]ous women of her Conuent, and afterwards the aduise & coūsel of Master Henry van Roy Doctor of physick, dweling at S. Trone. Afterwards of Doctor Herman Gr [...]ffenroy, who came from the citie of Liege, of an other Doctor in the town of Hasselt called Some rius, a certain Surgeō called M. No [...]ld' Arthois of an other of Sittert, of a certain woman of the sayd citie of S. Trone, by the aduise of all these she took many drincks, receptes, and medicines, but all in vaine, & without any profit, the sayd flux stil continuing without cease, beeing for the most parte of blood; & she thought she should haue voyded all her bowells, hauing had and that very often tymes, aboue thirtie stooles within the space of a day and a night. Whereby perceiuing herself past all hope of recouerie by any humaine meanes, she took her recours to almightie God, and to his holy Mother the Virgin Marie, and so in the yeare 1604 she promised to go in pilgrimage to Montaigu, to which place she transported herself within a little whyle after, and there hauing donne her deuotions, she returned [Page] homeward with some more ease the before, howbeit shee was not perfectly cured. But beeing come home to her Conuent, and continuing her deuotions towards the Virgin Marie for some nyne dayes space, settling her hart and intentiō towards the miraculous place of Mōtaigu, vpon the nynthe day (which was in the moneth of August) after dinner, she felt a maruelous and miraculous alteration in her bodie, in so much that she thought shee had as it were a new bodie, & from that instant the sayd flux ceased, and thesayd religious woman remained perfectly whole and cured. After which cure she hath been twyce [...]t Montaigu to thank God for his fauour, and his holy Mother for her assistance, the patient daylie recouering her streng [...]h. All which [...]ppeareth by the attestation of the Maier and sworne men of the place & Conuent of Herkenroy, who had the examination of the sayd Sister Marie, and of other witnessē that could wel testifie the sames: dated vpon the twelfth of October in the sayd yeare 1604 & sealed with the seales of the ladie Abbesse and of the ma [...]er & sworne persōs of the aforesayd cōnēt.

[Page]

How vpon the seuenth of September the place of Montaigu was inuaded by the Rebells of Holland.

OVr Lord therefore thus daylie continuing his miracles and maruelous woorks, whose glorious beames did not only shine in Bravant, and in other neer neighbouring contries, but did shoot out euen vnto Holland, and other places held by the heretikes & rebells against our Princes, and the enimie of mankynd perceiuing that by this way his kingdom began to be troobled, and that by these so euident and infallible testimonies not only they who in some sorte wauered, or doubted of their Catholik fayth were confirmed, but that those also who were missed & erred in their Religion, would thereby come to the knowledge of the true faith, and so forsake those darck mistes of error wherewith they were en [...]ironed. This our ghostly enimie (I say) inflamed with anger & enuie against the holy Mother of God, indeuoured somuch that he incited certain Captaines [Page] and cheefs of the rebells that vpon a suddaine (and whylst our armie and men of warre were employed in the countie of Flāders both about the taking in of Osted as also in resisting the rebelles who were planted before the town of Scluse) they might go to surpryse, burn, and destroy the Image and Chappel of our Ladie of Montaigu. And so hauing assembled together some eight hundreth or a thowsand hors from the Cities of Breda and Bergues vpon Soam, they came vpō the eue of the Natiuitie of our Ladie, beeing the vijth. of September, 1604. in the night to the banksyde of the riuer of Demere, through the which they hauing waded at a certain place not far from the town of S [...]chen, (the water beeing then verie [...]ow) they thought to haue surprysed the place and al that was therein a little after midnight, before that any should discouer them: but whereas an hower or two before they passed ouer the riuer, those of Montaigu were aduertised of their enterprise, they had opportunitie to saue the miraculous Image, and the best vestures and ornaments of the Chappel.

[Page]When the Heretikes were arriued at Montaigu they began to belch out infinit blasphemies, & horrible iniurious words against the Mother of God; and casting themselues furiously into the Chappel, they broke the images, pictures & painted tables that remained: they burnt the foormes, chestes, seates of confession, and other thinges that were of wood, and yet the Chappel took no fyer, allthough they laboured to burn it also. And taking no compassion at the teares and waylings of the poor inhabitants, cōsumed with fyer all their, howses cottages and baraques in the moūtayne, they robd certain women (that were come thether in pilgrimage, and had remained there all that night to the end that on the next day they might the better at [...]ēd to their deuotions) spoyling them of their rings, iewels, money, and such lyke stuff, and some men they took whome they carried away with them, but those were very few. And so making their retreat with the glory of so honorable an exployt they passed further within the countrie and so returned into the Campigne and from thence euery one to his own quarter, with smal gayn [Page] and bootie, but yet with the honorable tytle of howsburners, Image-breakers, and persecutors of the Mother of God, and of her who brought vs foorth our aeternal saluation, & who with her own flesh and blood nourished the bodie and flesh of the Sauiour of the world, by which he saued & redeemed vs. A woork which at that great day of iudgement must expect of the soueraine Iudge (who is her sonne) such a guerdon and recompence as any man of iudgment may wel imagin: seeing amōgst mortal men there is none so simple or base mynded that can behold his own mother abused and vnworthelie iniuried without some inward feeling thereof. Which thing all they who haue any way consented or assisted vnto ought seriously to consider. Also the reporte is (not that we affirm it for an assured truthe) that m [...]ny of these gallants haue alredy experienced [...]he reuenging hand of God vpon them. And truely yf this be not come vpon them alredie, let them assure themselues, that by how much the later it is before they feel the hand of God, by so much the heauier wil it fall vpon them. But what hath the [Page] deuil gayned (thinck you) by this affront; but onely that the affectiō & deuotion of good Catholiks is grown much greater, and more feruent towards the glorious virgin Mother of God, and that the visitation of this holy place hath been sithēs as much frequented and continued as euer it was before, and that in steed of a few poor little sheddes and cottages now you may see diuers good complete howses. And without all doubt Satan laboureth in vaine to extirpate and root out that which hath been planted by the hand of the Almightie: let him spyte at it, and let him gnash his teeth as much as he wil against it, his mallice shal be turned vpō his own head, and this glorious woman this Ladie whome enough we can not pryze, whome we serue and honour, shal by the holy frute of her womb crush the head both of him and of all his adherents and consortes.

A Cure of the Dropsy and other diseases.

MArie Gerbrants, the daughter of Gerbrant In Sep. 1604. Hessels, dwelling in the Citie [Page] of Amsterdam in Holland, was for the space of mo ethen three yeares afflicted with the dropsie, and for two whole yeares she was in that case that she could not walk in any manner, neither without crutches nor with them, hauing all her bodie ful of water, her legges swoln and as stiffe as stakes, and so grosse that her heeles could not be seen. Besydes this, shee had an accident in her right syde aboue the hip, as yf some of her sinewes had been ouerstrained & ouerwrested, causing the place to swel as big as ones filt, which did much trooble her. And although she had vsed the aduise of a certain Doctor of phisick, and that for a whole yeare, yet he could do her no good, insomuch that he told the patient plainly that he knew no meanes wherby to help her. Afterwards in the yeare 1604. about Easter hauing heard of the miracles which were dōn at Montargu she was very desirous to go thither, & to pray there vnto our Ladie for her health, And at last she set her self on the way in the companie of one Be [...]uard Adrtans [...]n the ordinarie messager of Amsterdam, with whome she came to Antwerp vpon the seuenth Of September in the same [Page] yeare 1604. and lodged in the hows of mistris Angel [...] d [...] Por [...]s, at the whyte flowr de luce in the K [...]ser st [...]ate, and vpon thesame day▪ she taking boat departed towards the Citie of Maclin, together with two yong maydes whose names were Susan v [...]d [...]r Schueren, & Anne de Duyue. From Maclin by wagon they went towards Mōtaigu where they arriued vpō the seuenth of the sayd moneth, beeing the eue of the Natiuitie of our Ladie. On the same euening the sayd Ma [...]t [...] Gerbrants, wēt to confession with intention to communicate vpon the next day, and to performe her deuotion, and for this purpos she remained that night in the mountayne: but whereas on the same night the soldiers of the heret [...]c [...]l rebells of Holl [...]d ad [...]ass [...]d ouer the [...]uer, and were come to de [...]oy and ruine the place, and that our people were aduertised of their com [...]g▪ [...] Mar [...]e (about two of the clock after midnight) with her companie put themselues quickly into the wagon and with all speed possible fled to saue themsel [...]es in the Citie of Louaine. And they beeing in the wagon the patient perceiued that the swelling and accident in her [...]hi [...] [Page] was gone and cured, feeling verte little paine ther of: & on they went the next day to [...], where the sayd Mar [...]e continued vntil the fifteenth of the sayd moneth of September, & then again shee took her way towards Montaigu, hauing in her companie the sayd▪ [...], and Ioan F [...]erlinc [...], and on the day following they arriued there, vpō which day they confessed and communicated, praying [...]e [...]ou [...]ely in the Chappel of our Ladie, & that euening they wēt to lodge in Dust, the sayd Marie at that tyme going with two crutches. Vpō the day followig they returned to Montaigu, and againe they did their deuotions in the Chappel. And as the patient prepared her self to go to the aitar to receiue the blessed Sac, amē [...] she foūd herself so confort [...]d & strēgthned that she went thether without any help of her crutches. They hauing ended their deuotions put themselues into their waggon, towards the which she also walked without her crutches, leaning onely vpon the sayd Anne de Du [...]ue. And on the next day (which was saterday) beeing in the citie of Maclin, the sayd Mar [...]e was so strong as that shee went without [Page] either crutche or any other help from her lodging to the Church of S. Rombold, where shee was present at our Ladies masse. Vpon the same day shee arriued at Antwerp, and daylie euer after she found her self better and better, & all the swelling of her legges and bodie ceased and went away, [...]hee not hauing any kynd of e [...]ection or voyding of the water that was therein, insomuch that the bodies of her coate which before her cure could not be drawn together, was found that by a quarter of an ell it was afterwards too great for her. Together with this grace which shee receiued at Montaigu shee also obtained an other, which was the curing of a certain disease called Schu [...] erburck (a malladie wel known in Holland) wherewith at the very selfsame tyme she was grieued. In somuch as within seuen or eight dayes she was perfectly cured of all her accidēts, as she is euen at this present. Wherefore vpon the last of the sayd moneth of September shee returned the third tyme to our Ladies at Montaigu, in the companie of the aforesayd Mistris Angela de Portis to render thancks to our Lord, and his holy Mother for this his [Page] work of mercie, & for a memorie, there she offered vp her crutches. All which appeareth by the testimonies and othes solemnly made before the Magistrates of the Citie of Antwerp, both by the sayd Marte Gerbran [...]s, and Anne de Duyue, as also by Mistris Susan vander Schueren, & Mistris Angela de Portis, according to an information taken hereof vpon the seuen and twentith of September, & vpon the fourth and xxjth. of October in the sayd yeare 1604. Subsigned D. vander Neesen Secretarie of the sayd Citie.

A Rupture cured.

GOdfrey Ruthinck of Borkelo, receauer for their highnesses in Geldres had a sonne called Lu [...]ert, of the age of twelue yeares, who in the yeare 1604. was so beaten and & trodden vnder foot by an other boy in Geldres, that he was burst on both sydes: wherewith his parents much agrieued caused M. Iose Kinck surgeon inhabitant of the sayd town to bee sent for, that hee might help and cure the chyld yf it were possible, who hauing [Page] visited him, applyed for the space of three weeks certain oyles and plaisters vnto him, which are good against that disease. But his parents pe [...]c [...]auing that nothing profited him they took their refuge to almightie God, and to his holy Mother: promising to make a Pilgrimage to our Ladie of Montaigu. And hereupon the wyfe of the sayd Godfrey went thether with her chyld, and arriued there vpon the tēth of August in the same yeare 1604▪ and hauing for some tyme donne there her deuotions, as shee returned home towards the sayd town of Geldres, she perceiued in her way that her chyldes disease was amended, and beeing come home shee caused the foresayd surgeon M. Iose Kinck to be called for▪ to see the chyld. Who hauing seen and visited the place of the disease in the presence of diuers persons, he found him perfectctly healed, as he is euen at this present. The which both the sayd Godf [...]ey & his wyfe, & the sayd M. Iose Kinck Surgeon avouched and affirmed vnder their solemn othes, before the Magistrates of the town of Geldres, as it appeareth by the attestation of the sayd Magistrates giuen [Page] hereof, and dated vpon xxth. of October in the same yeare 1604. subsigned I. Richard, and sealed with the seale of thesayd town.

How a lame woman was cured.

MArie Martin widow of Iohn Thiry, In Aug. 1604. dwelling in Ligny neer to Fleru in the County of Namur, beeing fiftie and fower yeares old, some fiue yeares ago in a night became so lame that shee could not moue her self, and this happened her especially in her left leg, in such sorte that shee was forced to vse two crutches, for without them shee could not go. And to▪ the end shee might be healed, shee went in pilgrimage to diuers places of deuotiō as wel in the cuntrie of He [...]alt, as of Liege, & els were, & yet could shee obtain no ease. At last hauing heard of the miracles of our Ladie at Montaigu, shee went thether vpon her crutches about the beginning of Nouember in the yeare 1604, & beeing in our Ladies Chappel she sayd her prayers there vpon her▪ knees: afterwards intending to go to the priest▪ [Page] to confession that she might also communicate, suddainly as shee arose shee felt in herself such an alteration, that she [...] went to her Confessor without any help of her crutches, and hauing ended her deuotions shee departed onely with the help of a staffe, and left her crutches in the Chappel for a perpetuall memorie of the benefit which shee had there receiued, and so returned home, where she remaineth increasing daylie in her strength and force, going at this present to the Church, & in her hows without any support what soeuer: as appeareth by her deposition made vnder her othe before the Maier and Escheuins of the court of the Lordship of Ligny, vpō the seuenth of Ianuarij 1605, subsigned I. D [...]c [...]s Secretarie.

A cure of a sore leg.

NIcholas Crumm [...] a yong man born [...] in Vaels hard by the Citie of Aken, as some seauen yeares since hee serued one Martin L [...]a [...]s in a farme appertayning to the Chanon [...] of Aken where hee was [Page] imployed in tilling the ground and to look vnto certain horses, hee [...]elt on a day about Whitsontyde a kynde of grief and gnawing in his left leg, and afterwards an issue broke out of the same leg, the which increasing by litle and litle waxing as broad as the palme of ones hand, it began to yeeld out a kynd of yellow water and moisture, and it much hindred him in his labor, and somtymes he was in that case that he could not go out of the hows. Whereupon he transported himself to the sayd Citie of Aken there to take the counsel and aduise of a certain surgeon called Henry Pau [...]n, in whose hows he remained about some three weekes for this purpose: but he profited him nothing for al that he could apply vnto him: and in steed of one issue there ensued an other. Afterwardes he was coūseled by some to go to the hāgman of the Citie, who had him in cure for the space of fifteen dayes, and yet [...] was nothing holpen by him. From th [...] [...]e caused himself to be carried to the [...] of Maestright, where for the space of [...] moneths he put himself into the hāds of [...]e Barbers and Surgeons, and nam [...]ly [Page] of M. Iohn Cornill [...], Iames H [...]ain, and P [...] Cr [...]mmens: who all by diuers medicines & remedies endeuoured to cure him, but they atchieued no more then the others before: his leg remaning with the former soares, and was very much swoln, so that the patient was forced to go with two crutches. And in this plight he remained for a long tyme, beeing not able to go somuch as one or two steps without his crutches. Whereby being at last brought to that pouertie that he was cō strained to procure his liuing by the almesse of good folk, he was counseled by some to goe vnto the great Hospital of Bruxelles there to be healed and assisted. Where beeing admitted, he continued for some fower moneths and an half, and albeit that he was daylie visited by M. Iohn Bierens sworn Surgeon of the Citie, and by the Religious women of the sayd hospital, yet they could neuer cure him. Whereupon leauing Bruxelles, he went to Antwerp, where he was again in the Hospital for fourteen weekes, and he was assisted and dressed by two Surgeons, whereof the one was called M. Cornelius and the other M. Iohn, & although [Page] both they and the Physitions which visited and frequented him, had vsed all their diligence to heale him, yet they profited nothing, so that all that they did was in vaine. In somuch as beeing out of all hope to be cured, he departed out of the Hospital, and went vp and down a beggig going alwayes with his crutches. Afterwards coming to the Citie of Maclin he put himself into the Hospital to try yf there he could be holpen: where for the space of six weekes he was in the hands of the surgeon of that Hospital, dwelling neere to our Ladies Church, who also spared no paynes to cure him: but all was frutelesse, and procured him no ease, the poor patient continuing stil in the sayd state, hauing his left leg drawn backward, and very crooked, and so stiff, that he thought none was able by any force to make it right again. And so seeing all the remedies that he applyed there vnto did no good, he remained stil lame, not medling any more with phisick or surgerie, saue onely that he took some plaisters now from one, and then from an other to preserue his leg from rotting. It happened that in the beginning of the [Page] yeare 1603. he hard folk tel of the miracles which were wrought at Montaigu through inuocation of our Ladie, whereupon he wēt with his crutches thether from the aforesayd village of Vaels, where he was at that present, and he continued for a certain tyme in the moūtayne, there daylie praying, and yet at that tyme he felt no ease at all. But wheras afterwards he perseuered in going often tymes in pilgrimage to the sayd Montaigu, and in visiting our Ladies Chappel: at the last betwixt Easter and Whit suntyde in the yeare 1604. seiourning for some tyme on the sayd mountayn, and dooing his accustomed deuotions at the Chappel, he also took of the water that is in the sayd place, and daylie washed his leg therewith: wherein he found incontinently amendment, and perceiued that the two soares of his leg (which were now turned into one and w [...] as large as both ones hands) began to heale, and by litle and little to decrease. Vpon which euēt beeing to depart from thence, he furnished himself with a good quantitie of that water in a [...]ot, where-with he continued to wash his leg as before, and so by litle and litle [Page] the sayd sore was made perfectly whole, and the swelling of his leg went away. And in the beginning of December in thesayd yeare 1604. he came again to Montaigu with his crutches (although he had alredy felt so great ease that he vsed them not) and stayed there vntil the twentith of the sayd moneth, daylie washing his leg in the order as before we haue sayd: & at that tyme it became very right, strōg, and free from the former euil, insomuch that he left his crutches at our Ladies Chappel, going and walking as perfectly as any other: and from thence he went on foot without any paine or grief to the Citie of Bruxelles vpon the xxijth of the same moneth: where before the magistrates of the sayd Citie he affirmed and vnder his othe solemnly auouched the thinges that here haue been declared, as it apeareth by the attestatiō they dispatched heerof, dated the same day, and subsigned, P. Numan Secretarie of the sayd Citie.

Laus Deo beataeque Virgini Dei Genitrici Mariae.

THE CONCLVSION OF THE TRANSLATOR.

[Page]

HEere, and with these (Christian Reader) I thought good for this present to end, although Almightie God through his goodnes of these miraculous workes as yet maketh no end. The addition of those miracles which at our Montaigu this last yeare haue been wrought, after due examination are now vnder the printers hands, whereof in tyme (by Gods help) I wil make thee partaker. Meane whyle with the deuout Euangelical woman make thy profit of these which here thou fyndest: and with her not onely inclyne thy hart to beleeue, but also lift vp thy voice to professe and confesse the happines of this sacred Mother, [Page] at whose intercession they are wrought, and withall the infall [...]ble assured authoritie of the Catholik Apostolik and Romane Church, in which onely, and for whose onely comfort, credit, and confirmatiō they are atchiued. Remēber who they were that would haue killed Lazarus, and in deed killed our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ: whome therfore they should haue beleeued and honored, whē they saw by his most doubtles signes the truthe was so manifested and theyr impietie detected. Beware thou turn not with them to the reason of state, and earthly pollicie, saying: Neveniant Romani or such like, thereby diuerting thy self from that which principally thou art bound to regard, least through the iust iudgement of God, that which thou now most fearest apprehend thee, and that which should be thy soueraine obiect, hereafter faile thee. Doost thou not see how our Catholik doctrin by the same powerful hand at this present is vpholden and fostered, by which at the beginning it was planted and took root? Read read, and see Yet for thyn own good I am to increat thee, to auoid all curiositie in thy [Page] reading, as thou seest how I haue auoided it in my translation: endeuouring rather truly then trimly to expresse my Author, as he hath labored purely & punctually to deliuer vs the truthe. Lykewyse be thou careful, not curious in learning the truthe, and Christiāly couragious in confessing the truthe, that in the hower of thy chiefest peril the truthe may deliuer thee.

§

§

[Page]

Haec translatio mi [...] simae Virginis Miri [...] Gallico in Anglicu [...] rum ac bonorum [...] mihi ipsi fido) iudicio [...] lica inuenta est. Pot [...] ad multorum oppr [...] rum solatium▪ Dedu [...] 1606.

Egbertus Spi [...] [...] & P. [...] libro [...] Cum Gratia & [...]egi [...] ad Sexen [...]iu [...] Buscl [...]

Faultes escaped in the printing.

[Page]

In the translators preface.

For sf. read of.

For paryer. prayer.

For comfort, consort.

In the preface of the author.

For the pietie of princes,

Read, the pietie of our princes.

Pag. 22. for reaons read reasons.

Pag. 26. for acotnes read acornes.

Pag. 175. for depar read departed.

Pag. 190. for calebrated read celebrated.

Pag. 250. for Carles read Earles

Consider (courteous Reader) our difficulties in vsing printers that are strangers, and at thy discretion vouchsafe to correct these and such lyke faultes.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

Miracles lately vvrought by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marie, at Mont-aigu, nere vnto Siché in Brabant Gathered out of the publik instruments, and informations taken thereof. By authoritie of the Lord Archbishop of Maclin. Translated out of the French copie into English by M. Robert Chambers priest, and confessor of the English religious dames in the citie of Bruxelles.Histoire des miracles advenus a l'intercession de la glorieuse vierge Marie, au lieu dict Montaigu. English

Numan, Philippe, d. 1617.

Edition statement

1606

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-08 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A08428

ID [STC]

STC 18746

ID [STC]

ESTC S113398

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99848632

ID [PROQUEST]

99848632

ID [VID]

13741

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A08428)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 13741)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 967:27)

Source

— Miracles lately vvrought by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marie, at Mont-aigu, nere vnto Siché in Brabant Gathered out of the publik instruments, and informations taken thereof. By authoritie of the Lord Archbishop of Maclin. Translated out of the French copie into English by M. Robert Chambers priest, and confessor of the English religious dames in the citie of Bruxelles., Histoire des miracles advenus a l'intercession de la glorieuse vierge Marie, au lieu dict Montaigu. English, Numan, Philippe, d. 1617., Chambers, Robert, 1571-1624?.

Extent

[86], 153, 158-296, [2] p.

By Arnold Conings,. Printed at Antwarp :: 1606.. (By Philippe Numan.) (A translation of: Histoire des miracles advenus a l'intercession de la glorieuse vierge Marie, au lieu dict Montaigu.) (At foot of title: Cum priuilegio.) (Running title reads: A historie of miracles.) (With a final imprimatur and errata leaf.) (Reproduction of the original in Yale University. Library.)

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Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.