The process of dissolution at Vale Royal was begun in September 1538 by the royal commissioner Thomas Holcroft , who was ordered to " take and recyve " the abbey from Hareware . The situation grew legally murky as Holcroft , probably with a forged signature on the deed of exchange , claimed that the abbey had surrendered to him on 7 September . The abbot ( and abbey ) denied doing so , questioning Holcroft 's authority . Holcroft then alleged that the abbot had attempted to take over the abbey himself , and had tried to conspire with Holcroft to commit land fraud . The monks continued to petition the government , particularly Thomas Cromwell , who was responsible for church affairs in his role as vicar general during the Royal Supremacy . Hareware wrote to the chief minister during his journey to London : In December 1538 , Abbot John and his community received a papal dispensation to change habits and temporarily join another order . With some disquiet probable in government circles about the legitimacy of the Vale Royal surrender , steps were taken to put the matter beyond doubt . A special court was held at the abbey on 31 March 1539 , with Cromwell the judge . Instead of investigating the circumstances of the surrender the court charged the abbot with treason and conspiracy in the murder of a monk ( who had committed suicide ) in 1536 . He was also accused of " treasonous utterances " during the Pilgrimage of Grace ; both murder and treason were capital crimes . The abbot was found guilty , and Vale Royal was declared forfeited to the crown . Abbot John was not executed : rather , he was given a substantial pension of £ 60 per year and the abbey 's silver plate , indicating that the trial was a means of pressuring him to acquiesce to Cromwell . The rest of the community were also pensioned off , and Exchequer records indicate that Abbot John lived until at least 1546 . The abbey 's immediate estates were incorporated into the new parish of Whitegate
Pilgrimage of Grace
Pilgrimage of Grace
Vale Royal Abbey