TO:    Fr. Diego de Sandoval

The Monastery of St. John of the Rock

Santa Cruz de la Seros, Jaca

Province of Huesca, Aragon

Kingdom of Spain

16 November, Anno Domini 1521

My dear brother,

I pray this letter finds you in the best health. This expedition has exceeded all of hopes for it. Stout Cortez has brought me, a humble country lad but a true Spaniard, to a land filled with potential. I have become a rich man, and taken a village for myself. It is along the Coatzacoalcos River, which the savages call Guaspaltepque. At the same time as I send this this letter, I shall have delivered a chest containing two hundred pesos to our mother, so you need not worry about her. My only sorrow is not to have you here, too, sharing in this splendor.

Yours,

Gonzalo de Sandoval