This is a french account of Drake’s voyage around the World, by F. de Louvencourt, which left Plymouth on 15 November 1577. The voyage went via South America and Tierre del Fuego then up the East coast of America before crossing the Pacific to the Moloques and then onto le Cap de Bonne Esperance and back to England on 3 November 1580. He did not stop in Inde. The account of this voyage stops on 82p. The second part of the book commences on 83p and discusses a voyage up the east coast of Africa as well as the Golfe de Persique and Malabar, 124p. There then follows discussion on Calicut, Zamorin, Bramins, Narsinge (141p), Coromandel, Bengale (152p), Cambaye and leaving the Empire du grand Mogor for Pegu and Siam on 153p. The rest of the book discusses Europe. It is not clear who made this “voyage” as there is no evidence that is was Drake and no dates are given.

This first part of this book book was translated from Portugese to Italian in Rome and then to French by François Lahier. It concentrates on the missions in the Far East such as Macao, Tunquin, Cochinchine etc. The second part is titled the Relation des missions de la province de Malabar and was written in Italian by François Barretto, procureur de cette province à Rome, and translated into French by François Lahier. There is a separate front piece for this part (pp. 185-308) which includes the missions of Cochin, Calecut, Travancor, Cranganor, Coulan etc but also has sections on the missions on the East coast of Inde; cote de la Pécherie, Maduré, Ceilam, Gesanapatan, Gioromandel, up to Bengal.

The voyage left Zelande on 29 Juin 1630 and reached the Cap de Bonne-Esperance by 15 Octobre before going on to Sumatra and Batavia by Février 1631. They eventually went on to Formose by Aoust 1631 and then Jappon in 1633. The return voyage started in Septembre 1634, arriving at Surate (p. 75) where they stayed until they left for Perse on 29 janvier 1635 (p. 85). They spent some time in Perse before going to Cananor on the Malabar coast, arrivng there on 3 Novembre 1635, and then to Monteli or Montdelli (p. 101). There was a conflict and they ended up in Samori within the realm of the Roy de Calicut. They left Montely on 1 Décembre 1635 and headed to Surate and then on to Cameron and back again after trading goods. They continued down the coast passing Goa, Cananor, Calecut, Samori and Cochin and headed to Batavia and arriving there on 22 May 1636 (p. 110). The rest of the book describes hydographie, but is not related to Inde.

The first part of this book, although described as the Privince du Iapon, includes references to Tunquim, Cochinchine, Hainam, Siam, Giangoma, Cambogia and Laïs. Part 2, which the Province of Malabar, commences on p. 186 and continues until the end of the book (p. 314). It encompasses sections on the Royaumes of Bisnaga, Malabar (ou Meliapor), Cochin, Tabor, Calecut (ou du Zamorin), Muserte, Travancor, Coste de la Pescherie, Cap de Comorin, Maduré, Ceilam, Candie, Jesanapatam, Manar, Giomandel, Narsingue, Bengala, Tibet, Puissant, Pegu, Mamaca, Macassa, Sumatra and the Moluques.

This book, although divided into 6 livres, has continuous page numbering. However, each livre has separate chapter numbering. Many countries and places in the world are mentioned. Inde and places in Inde are found in Livre 5: Chapter 7 (p. 461) De l’Inde selon les Anciens; a brief description de l’Inde de ces derniers temps (Chapter 8, p. 465); Des pays & Royaumes de Cambaia, Narsinga, Malabar & Orixa (Chapter 9, p. 468); Des Royaumes de Bengala, Pegu, Sian & Camboia, comme ausi de l’Inde Septentrionale (Chapter 10, p. 471); finishing with Des Isles de la mer Indienne (Chapter 11, p. 473).

This 5 act play is set in Alexander’s camp on the banks of the river Hydaspe. Porus is Roy des Indes and his wife, Argire, and 2 daughters, Oraxene and Clairance, are Alexander’s prisioners. Other characters include Arsacide who is Prince des Indes.