The Little Flowers and the Life of St. Francis, with the...

ing that the brethren day by day did multiply, and that all of them every year did there assemble together, forasmuch as they had not but one small cell thatched with straw whereof the walls were of wattle and dab, did hold their council, and within a few days, in much haste and with the greatest devotion, did make there a great house built of stones and mortar, without the consent of the Blessed Francis and in his absence. And when the Blessed Francis returned from a certain province and came thither to the Chapter, he marvelled greatly of the house that there was built, and fearing lest by occasion of this house that other brothers in the places wherein they sojourned or might thereafter sojourn should in like fashion cause great houses to be made, and for that he willed this place should be the pattern and example of all other places of the Order, before the Chapter was ended, he went up on to the roof of the house and bade the brethren go up also, and along with the brethren themselves did begin to throw down to the ground the tiles wherewith the house was roofed, being minded to destroy the same even to the foundations. But certain soldiers of Assisi that were there to guard the place by reason of the number of burgesses that had come together to look on at the Chapter of the brethren, seeing how the Blessed Francis with the other brethren was minded to batter the house to pieces, straightway went unto him and said to him: “Brother, this house belongeth to the Community of Assisi, and we be here on behalf of the Community.

Wherefore we warn thee that thou destroy not this house which is ours.” Upon hearing this, the Blessed Francis said unto them: “If so be, then, that it is yours, I do not wish to touch it.” And forthwith he and the other brethren came down therefrom. Wherefore from that time forward the people of the city of Assisi made a by-law that whosoever should be high-bailiff of the city should be bound to make it be repaired. And every year for a long time thereafter was this statute observed.