Corrodian

Someone who receives a pension of room, board, and other bare necessities upon retiring from the King's service.

"Since he tells us he had married for love, not for money, he and his wife lived as best they might in their 'smale cote', Hoccleve working by day at the office, and when hard pressed writing a poem in hope of reward. His youthful excesses seem to have damaged his health for a time, and for some five years he suffered from a 'wyld infirmyte' and was out of his mind. He recovered, and with sight impaired and mind enfeebled he struggled on until, after thirty-six years' service, in 1424, he was granted 'such sustenance yearly during his life in the Priory of Southwick, Hants, as Nicholas Mokknge, late master of St Lawrence in the Poultry, had'. The king was able to quarter him on the Priory in this manner since, in accordance with medieval practice, he had the right to pension off one of his servants in this way from time to time and the Priory was forced to find suitable accommodation for the corrodian, as he was called, as well as food, amenities and clothing. Unfortunately we do not know the details of Hoccleve's corrody, but in common with many others of the period we may assume that it provided lodging within or close to the precincts of the monastery for Hoccleve and his wife, together with a fixed daily allowance of ale and bread, and a dish of flesh or fish according to the day and season. In addition there were his allowances of wood and candles, yearly robes for himself and his wife and possibly a small grant of money."

Six Medieval Men & Women, "Thomas Hoccleve," H. S. Bennett (1955).