[III‑4] Consisting of four navíos and one galleon.
[III‑5] Felipe Gutierrez set out in 1535, though some authorities make it 1553. The former date is probably correct, for in a letter addressed to the emperor in 1534 Andagoya states that he has been advised of his Majesty's orders to the governor of Veragua to recruit men in Panamá, and begs him to reconsider his command. Andagoya, Carta al Rey, Oct. 22, 1534.
[III‑6] This stream was the river Concepcion, about two leagues west of the river Veragua and four leagues west of the Belen.
[III‑7] 'Á aquella poblacion mandó llamar el gobernador Felipe Gutierrez la cibdad de la Concepcion, y tambien la pudiera llamar de la aflicion, porque él y todos tenian trabaxo extremado.' Oviedo, ii. 483-4.
[III‑8] An expedition must be fitted out. The governor being sick delegated the command to his lieutenant Alonso de Pisa, who was to be accompanied by the priest Juan de Sosa. This latter knew that Pisa was not a favorite with the men, and the clérigo was ambitious to represent the church militant as general of the expedition; but Governor Gutierrez reproved him severely, stating that it was unseemly for a priest to carry arms. Many profane words were interchanged, the Spanish language being remarkably rich in such vocabulary. Sosa gained his point, and received the appointment, Diego de Pisa, brother of Alonso, acting as his lieutenant. Oviedo, ii. 484-9.
[III‑9] 'Huuo algunos que mataron vn Christano enfermo, y se le comieron.' Herrera, dec. v. lib. ix. cap. xi.
[III‑10] In Herrera, dec. v. lib. ix. cap. xi., there is a severe and somewhat unjust stricture on the conduct of Gutierrez. He says that when the sufferings of the party became intolerable, their leader, being too cowardly to risk a final and desperate effort, deserted his men, thus forfeiting his former good name, and embarked secretly with a few friends for Nombre de Dios; but it does not appear what he would have gained by attempting any further enterprise with the remnant of his starving band.
[IV‑1] [Hist. Cent. Am., i. 683] et seq., this series.
[IV‑2] At the former of the above-named sessions, a fresh enrolment of citizens took place, and it is worthy of note that Alvarado first became one himself on that date, as 'el Sr Capitan General' heads the list which contains more than forty names. Remesal erroneously gives August 23, 1526, as the date of the enrolment. Hist. Chyapa, 8.
[IV‑3] Remesal makes a sly allusion to his vanity. 'Le parecio al Capitan Pedro de Aluarado boluer a la ciudad de Mexico, a ver, y que le viessen,' and adds that at this time, though not so quick and active as formerly, he had a fine appearance and a handsome countenance. Hist. Chyapa, 7.