Legal Definitions - corody

A corody was a historical arrangement, primarily prevalent in medieval Europe, where a religious institution (such as a monastery, abbey, or convent) provided ongoing support to an individual. This support typically included an allowance of money, accommodation, food, or clothing.

There were two primary ways a corody could be established:

• An individual might transfer ownership of their personal property, real estate, or both to the religious house. In exchange, the institution would commit to providing lifelong care, sustenance, and lodging. This served as a form of long-term care contract, particularly for those without family or seeking spiritual solace in their later years.
• The Crown could request a religious house to provide a corody for a retired royal servant. This obligation usually applied only to institutions that the Crown or its predecessors had originally founded, effectively placing a burden on these houses to support former state employees.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a corody:

• Imagine a wealthy widow, Lady Agnes, in 13th-century England, who wishes to ensure her security and spiritual well-being in her old age. Having no direct heirs, she decides to transfer the title to her small manor house and its surrounding lands to a local Benedictine abbey. In return, the abbey formally agrees to provide Lady Agnes with a comfortable private chamber within their cloister, daily meals prepared by the monastic kitchen, and new garments annually for the remainder of her life.

  This scenario illustrates a corody because Lady Agnes is exchanging her real property (the manor house and lands) with a religious institution (the abbey) in return for a guaranteed, lifelong allowance of accommodation, food, and clothing for her sustenance.

• Consider Sir Alaric, a knight who served King Henry II faithfully for many years, but is now too old and infirm for military service. The King, recognizing Sir Alaric's loyalty and long service, issues a royal decree to a prominent Cistercian monastery – an institution that the King's own ancestors had established centuries prior. The decree mandates that the monastery must provide Sir Alaric with a modest dwelling on its grounds, daily provisions from its stores, and a small annual stipend for his personal needs until his death.

  This example demonstrates a corody because the religious house (the Cistercian monastery) is providing an allowance of accommodation, food, and money to a royal servant (Sir Alaric) at the direct request of the Crown, specifically from an institution that was founded by the royal lineage.