Hernando Cortés Five Letters, 1519 1526 Emperor

These five letters, written by the Spanish conqueror, Hernando Cortes, to the Emperor Charles V of Spain between 1519 and 1526, record the earliest discoveries of mainland Mexico, and describe the Spanish invasion and conquest of Montezuma's empire through the eyes of the conqueror. “In the letters of Cortés we have a clear picture of Mexico through the simple eyes of the conqueror who admires his enemies. . . . He could write a masterly report. The second and the third letters are the clearest piece of narrative that we can ask for. We see the advance into the country, the conscientious determination to penetrate by peace, diplomacy or the sword to Montezuma’s capital, leading up to the final dramatic meeting with Montezuma himself.” — New Statesman