Mexico.- [Lopez de Gomara (Francisco)] The Pleasant Historie of the Conquest of the Weast India, now called new Spayne, Atchieved by the worthy Prince Hernando Cortes, first edition in English, largely printed in black letter, woodcut device on title, woodcut initials, first word of title and several headlines shaved, lower corner of title and a few other preliminary leaves repaired, just touching last word on a4, some slight worming and repairs to upper corners at beginning, stain to lower corner towards end, just encroaching on text on a few leaves, inner margin of B1 renewed, some light soiling and foxing, ink annotations to title, modern red straight-grain morocco, gilt, [Sabin 27751; STC 16807; Church 123], small 4to, Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman, 1578.

⁂ Rare and important work on the conquest of Mexico by Cortes' secretary and private chaplain, translated from Spanish into English by Thomas Nicholls and with a dedication to Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's principal secretary and 'spymaster'. Because of Lopez de Gomara's privileged position, he had access to many documents which subsequently disappeared, making this work one of the fullest and most detailed contemporary accounts of the destruction of the Aztec Empire.

Provenance: Christopher Rookes, probably King's College Cambridge scholar, vicar of Plumstead, Kent etc. d. c.1583 (ink name in margin of Ee3 verso and Rr3 verso); Lawrence Owen (ink name on title, probably late 17th century).