The letters of Cortes to the King are interesting but, should be read with caution. There are many political agendas that Cortes had when he wrote those letters and it might be that the speech that he records from Moctezuma may have been fabricated. The Spanish come from the Roman tradition that includes the fabrication of grand-eloquent speeches from great leaders in their histories and letters of state. Pliny and Tacitus in their writings give plenty of examples of fabricated speeches. It made their conquests much more interesting if they could show the greatness of their opponents.