Revenue from monastic lands rose from £27,000 in 1552/53, to £48,000 in 1556-7.
He was in part responsible for the boom in public schools which were built beside monastic lands or adjacent to the local churches.
However public opinion against any seizure of monastic land forced him to return the land.
He also, according to the author, recovered certain monastic lands that had been previously held "by force" by noblemen.
In turn it was agreed that the monasteries would stay dissolved so as to preserve the loyalty of those who had bought monastic lands.
It was the technical term for the expropriation of monastic lands or other church properties by the state in the centuries after the Reformation.
After the Dissolution, More also purchased some former monastic lands.
By the start of the 10th century, monastic lands, financial resources and the quality of monasteries' religious work had been much diminished.
The other monastic lands were dealt with by the Court of Augmentations, set up in 1536.
Holcroft made his fortune mainly by speculation in monastic lands.