SIR JOHN DE MORANT.
(Vol. ix., p. 56.)
In answer to the Query of H. H. M., I beg to state that the Sir John de Morant chronicled by Froissart was Jean de Morant, Chevalier, Seigneur d'Escours, and other lordships in Normandy. He was fourth in descent from Etienne de Morant, Chevalier, living A.D. 1245, and son of Etienne de Morant and his wife Marie de Pottier. His posterity branched off into many noble Houses; as the Marquis de Morant, and Mesnil-Garnier, the Count de Panzès, the Barons of Fontenay, Rupierre, Biéville, Coulonces, the Seigneurs de Courseulles, Brequigny, &c.
The Sire Jean de Morant, born A.D. 1346, was the hero of the following adventure, quoted from an ancient chronicle of Brittany, by Chesnaye-Desbois. It appears that the Sire de Morant was one of five French knights, who fought a combat à l'outrance against an equal number of English challengers, with the sanction, and in the presence, of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, A.D. 1381-2. The result was in favour of the French. The chronicle proceeds:
"Le Sire de Morant s'étant principalement distingué dans cette action, un Chevalier Anglois lui propose de venger, tête-à-tête, la défaite de ses compatriotes, et qu'ils en vinrent aux mains; mais que l'Anglois, qu'une indisposition aux genouils avoit forcé de combattre sans bottes garnies, avoit engagé son adversaire de quitter les siennes, en promettant, parole d'honneur, de ne point abuser de cette condescendance, à quoi le Sire de Morant consentit: le perfide Anglois ne lui tint pas parole, et lui porta trois coups d'épée dans la jambe. Le Duc de Lancastre, qui en fut témoin, fit arrêter ce lâche, et le fit mettre entre les mains du Sire de Morant, pour tirer telle vengeance qu'il jugeroit à propos, ou du moins le contraindre à lui payer une forte rançon. Le Seigneur de Morant remercia ce Prince, en lui disant 'qu'il étoit venu de Bretagne non pour de l'or, mais pour l'honneur' et le supplia de recevoir en grace l'Anglois, attribuant à son peu d'adresse ce qui n'étoit que l'effet de sa trahison. Le Duc de Lancastre, charmé d'une si belle réponse, lui envoya une coupe d'or et une somme considérable. Morant refusa la somme, et se contenta de la coupe d'or, par respect pour le Prince."
There is a short account of the branch of Morant de Mesnil-Garnier in the Généalogie de France, by Le Père Anselme, vol. ix.; but a very full and complete pedigree is contained in the eighth volume of the Dict. de la Noblesse Française, by M. de la Chesnaye-Desbois.
As the Rev. Philip Morant was a native of Jersey, it is more than probable that he was an offset of the ancient Norman stock, though their armorial bearings are widely different. The latter bore, Azure, three cormorants argent; but the family of Astle, of Colne Park in Essex, are said to quarter for Morant, Gules, on a chevron argent, three talbots passant sable.
Having only a daughter and heiress, married to Thomas Astle, Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London, the reverend historian of Essex could hardly have been the ancestor of the Morants of Brockenhurst.
There was also another family in Normandy, named Morant de Bois-ricard, in no way connected with the first, who bore Gules, a bend ermine.
John o' the Ford.
Malta.