Chapter XXVII. Of the house at Portiuncula which he began to destroy

57. Once when a chapter was to be held at S. Maria de Portiuncula, and the time was at hand, the people of Assisi, observing that there was no house there, in the man of God's absence and without his knowledge built with the utmost speed a house for the chapter to be held in. At length on his return he saw the house, and being deeply displeased, complained in no gentle tones. Presently he arose, the foremost to demolish the building, got upon the roof, and with strong hand tore down the slates and tiles. He bade the brethren also come up and remove that monstrous thing, far opposed to Poverty; for he said that anything savouring of arrogance that was seen in that place would quickly spread through the Order, and be taken by all as an example. Therefore he would have utterly destroyed that house if certain knights who were present had not resisted the fervour of his spirit by declaring that it belonged to the State, and not to the brethren.