THIRD LETTER
Sent by Fernando Cortes, Captain and Superior Justice of Yucatan, called the New Spain of the Ocean Sea, to the Very High and Most Potent and Invincible Lord, Don Carlos, August Emperor and King of Spain, Our Lord, concerning the things transpired and very worthy of admiration in the conquest and recovery of the very great and marvellous city of Temixtitan, and of the other provinces subject to it which had revolted. In which city and provinces the said Captain and Spaniards obtained great and signal victories, worthy of perpetual memory. Likewise, relation is made how the South Sea has been discovered; and many other and great provinces, very rich in mines of gold, and pearls, and precious stones, and information is even had that there are spices.
Very High and Most Powerful Prince, Very Catholic and Invincible Emperor, King and Lord. With Alonzo de Mendoza, native of Medellin, whom I sent from this New Spain on the fifth of March of the past year of 1521, I despatched a second account to Your Majesty of everything that had happened here; this I finished writing on the thirtieth of October of the year 1520, but on account of very contrary winds and the loss of three ships, one of which I had prepared to send with the said account to Your Majesty, and the two others to bring help from the island of Hispaniola, there was much delay in the said Mendoza' s departure, as I more fully wrote by him to Your Majesty. In the closing part of that despatch
