_ 239 _ The very presence of Frenchmen in the Indian Ocean in the first quarter of the 16th century must be subject to doubt. One of the references noted by French and Portuguese historians relates to the exploits of the corsair Pierre de Mondragon in the Mozambique Strait as early as 1508(A); and what significance should one attribute to the presence at Goa in 1512 and 1514 of a certain 'John of France’, a bombardier who is mentioned in the correspondence of Albuquerque(B)? Again, what importance should we give to the alleged voyage (this time the source is Chinese and again it is Anthiaume who reports it) of a French vessel to China in 1517(C)? The episode is an obscure one and lacks any proof. In the same year, the men of Rouen petitioned King Francois I not to forbid the importation of spices from Flanders and Portugal because "it was impossible for traders to make the (A) A. Anthiaume, Cartes marines, constructions navales et voyages de découverte chez les Normands, vol.1 (Paris 1916), p.400, n.6. Charles Bourel de la Ronciere, Histoire de la Marine Francaise, vol.3 (Paris 1923), p.137. (B) Torre do Tombo, Corpo Chron., ll, m.35, d.192 and m.46, d.48, published in Cartas de Albuquerque (Acad. de Ciencias de Lisboa, 2nd cl. vol.V, pp.272-3 and 57). (C) A. Anthiaume, op.cit. 1, 429, with references to the Chinese writers Li Ping and Siu.
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