The Rise and Fall of the Commons

The Commons turned its attention to corruption and fixed its teeth firmly into the body of monopolies, patents and referees. Sands spoke frequently at least 22 times in the first two weeks of April, and over 50 speeches in May. He was as keen as anyone to enable the king to fight for the Protestant cause and get him his money. So he smoothed conflicts out of the way to get a quick vote of subsidies - initially £140,000. But then things got nastier.