In October he was taken back to Portiuncula. His one desire now was to die near the spot where God had first revealed Himself to him. He was placed on a litter, and slowly the bearers descended the mountain.
"Turn me towards the town," he said when they reached the valley, and sitting up with a painful effort, he gazed for the last time in the direction of Assisi.
"Be blessed of the Lord," he said solemnly, "O town faithful to God. Many souls shall be saved in you and by you."
His first duty when he arrived at home was to make what he called his will! This is a recapitulation of the fundamental principles of his life, and a short account of the first early days of the brotherhood. He charges all to be true to the one rule of the Order.
"I absolutely forbid," he writes at the close, "all my brethren, whether clerks or laymen, to put glosses on the Rule, or on this writing, saying, 'thus it ought to be understood,' but as the Lord has given me grace to dictate purely and simply, understand them simply and without gloss, and put them in practice unto the end."
Light at Eventide.
Wise Francis, his knowledge of human nature was only equalled to his charity and long-suffering!
After this piece of work was accomplished he quietly resigned himself to die, and holding up his hands to Heaven, cried—
"Now, Oh Christ, I have nothing to keep me back! I shall go freely to Thee."
The end came rapidly. Each day found him weaker than the preceding one, and it was with difficulty that he was able to speak to those around him. Fifty of the brethren, who were then at the Portiuncula, knelt round his bed.