Legal Definitions - de corrodio habendo

De corrodio habendo refers to a historical legal writ, or formal written order, issued by the English Crown. Its purpose was to compel a religious institution, such as a monastery or abbey, to provide a "corody" – a form of allowance or sustenance – to a royal servant or appointee. This allowance typically included provisions like food, lodging, and sometimes clothing, ensuring the royal servant's upkeep at the expense of the religious house.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of a de corrodio habendo:

• Imagine a loyal knight who has served the King for many years, but is now too old and infirm for active duty. The King, wishing to reward his service and ensure his welfare, might issue a de corrodio habendo to a wealthy abbey. This writ would legally obligate the abbey to provide the retired knight with a room, daily meals, and basic care for the remainder of his life. This demonstrates the writ being used to secure an allowance (corody) for a royal servant from a religious house as a form of pension.

• Consider the widow of a royal clerk who died in service to the Crown, leaving his family without financial support. Out of recognition for the clerk's contributions, the Queen might issue a de corrodio habendo to a nearby nunnery. The writ would command the nunnery to provide the widow with a modest dwelling within their grounds and daily provisions, ensuring her sustenance as a dependent of a former royal official. This illustrates the writ's use to support the family members of royal servants.

• Suppose a royal administrator is dispatched to a remote region to oversee the construction of a new royal castle, far from any royal estates. To ensure the administrator's logistical support and allow him to focus on his duties, the King could issue a de corrodio habendo to the largest monastery in the vicinity. This writ would mandate that the monastery provide the administrator with lodging, meals, and stabling for his horse for the duration of his assignment, thereby facilitating the Crown's business through the resources of the religious house. This highlights the writ's application for active royal service and logistical support.