Most Sacred Majesty: On the 22nd day of the month of May of the year 1678, I dispatched from an unknown location, off the coast of Mexico, to the Madeline de Brest , a vessel, and in her a servant of mine, with orders to pass on my letter and its contents to your Majesty. I’ve encountered the people of these distant parts. It seems to me important that your Highness should become acquainted with my doings. I will therefore narrate some events plainly and to the best of my ability. I will describe only the principle and most remarkable incidents of said journey. Great discoveries have been made in your Majesty’s name. Mexico holds unfathomable quantities of gold, and silver, much beauty can be found in this savage place. As your Majesty is aware, this new world is also being explored by the Spanish. Our expedition avoids the Spaniards at all costs. This is to fend off any battles that may occurred if our two parties met. Most of the lands have not been touched by the hand of man. Roads and passages can hardly be found here. The mountains are so high and the forests so thick and impenetrable, that we could only see the spot where we placed our feet. Looking upwards, blue skies disappeared over our heads, the trees so tall and so close to each other, that those who climbed up them to discover land could not see beyond a stone’s throw . We found a village with several maize plantations in the finest of possible conditions. We also found other provisions, fowls, honey, beans and other produce of the land. The natives, if there were any at this place, not having shown themselves or made any oppositions, my men carried with us as much as we could back to the ship. Our provisions were running scare at this time. It was indeed a most welcome discovery and compensation for all our past troubles, for had we not found it at that moment, we should all have perished through hunger. The Mexica Empire, tribes, and peoples hold so many dark and mysterious secrets. They are ruthless heathens, with many gods that hunger for human sacrifice and blood. It happened that one of my men saw one of the Indians who had come with me from the Tenuxtitlan eating a piece of flesh taken from the body of another Indian, whom he had killed on entering Iztapan. When the case was reported to me, I had the Indian arrested, and there, in the presence of all, had him burnt alive, for having slain and afterwards eaten of the fellow creature. An abomination, which your Majesty, and myself in your royal name, have repeatedly condemned, ordering the people of these parts to abstain from doing.

Most Sacred Majesty: On the 22nd day of the month of May of the year 1678, I dispatched from an unknown location, off the coast of Mexico, to the Madeline de Brest , a vessel, and in her a servant of mine, with orders to pass on my letter and its contents to your Majesty. I’ve encountered the people of these distant parts.