The carrying merchandise into
the building seems to have been the custom in many of the cathedrals,
and so it is not wonderful that the building went to ruin. The Bishop
of London, Laud, sent round exhortations to the City Companies to
contribute to the restoration. Here is his letter to the Barber
Surgeons, dated January 30th, 1632:--
"To the right worshipful my very worthy friends the Master Wardens and
Assistants of the Company of Barber Surgeons, London, these:
"_Salus in Christo._ After my very hearty commendations you cannot
but take notice of his Majesty's most honest and pious intention
for the repair of the decay of Saint Paul's Church here in London,
being the mother church of this City and Diocese, and the great
Cathedral of this Kingdom. A great dishonour it is, not only to
this City, but to the whole state to see that ancient and goodly
pile of building so decayed as it is, but it will be a far greater
if care should not be taken to prevent the fall of it into ruin.
And it would be no less disgrace to religion, happily established
in this kingdom, if it should have so little power over the minds
of men as not to prevail with them to keep those eminent places of
God's service in due and decent repair, which their forefathers
built in times, by their own confession, not so full of the
knowledge of God's truth as this present age is.
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