Spanish Explorer Quotes

Hernán Cortés

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

[The Aztecs] said that by no means would they give themselves up, for as long as one of them was left he would die fighting, and that we would get nothing of theirs because they would burn everything or throw it into the water.

Hernán Cortés

One thing I supplicate your majesty: that you will give orders, under a great penalty, that no bachelors of law should be allowed to come here [the New World]; for not only are they bad themselves, but they also make and contrive a thousand iniquities.

To Ferdinand V of Spain in 1513

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

And when we saw all those cities and villages built in the water, and other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded...

Bernal Díaz del Castillo

Two days after moving we recommended ourselves to God, Our Lord, and fled, hoping that, although it was late in the season and the fruits of the tunas were giving out, by remaining in the field we might still get over a good portion of the land.

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca