He would have destroyed,
doubtless, much of the noble nave in time; but his work was abruptly
brought to an end by the outbreak of the Civil War. The work had
languished for some years, under the continuance of causes which I
have already adduced. But Laud, as Bishop of London, had displayed
most praiseworthy zeal, and King Charles had supported him generously.
When the troubles began, the funds ceased. In 1640 there had been
contributions amounting to L10,000. In 1641 they fell to less than
L2000; in 1643 to L15. In 1642 Paul's Cross had been pulled down,
and in the following March Parliament seized on the revenues of the
cathedral.
With the Rebellion the history of the cathedral may be said to be a
blank. It would have been troublesome and expensive to pull it down,
so it was left to decay; the revenues were seized for military uses,
and the sacred vessels sold. There is a doubtful tradition that
Cromwell tried to sell the building to the Jews for a stately
synagogue. Inigo Jones's portico was let out for shops, the nave was
turned into cavalry barracks.
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