Pedrarias calls on several expedition members to…

Pedrarias calls on several expedition members to search for new locations fit for settlement, due to overpopulation in Santa María.

Balboa requests of Pedrarias that he be allowed to explore the Dabaibe region, along the Atrato river, for there is a rumor of the existence of a temple filled with vast riches there.

However, this expedition turns out to be a failure, leaving Balboa wounded due to constant attacks by the region's natives.

This setback, however, does not deter Balboa's ambitions of returning to explore the South Sea.

Secretly, he arranges to recruit a contingent of men from Cuba.

The ship carrying them berths just outside Santa María, and its caretaker informs Balboa of their arrival, receiving in return seventy gold castellanos.

Pedrarias, however, soon finds out about the ship; furious, he has Balboa arrested, takes away all his men and is planning to lock him up in a wooden cage.

He i held back from doing this by Bishop de Quevedo, who appeals to him not to abuse his power on Balboa.

Luckily for Balboa, the Spanish Crown finally recognizes his valuable services around this time.

The king bestows on him the titles of "Adelantado of the South Seas" and "Gobernador of Panama and Coiba".

On top of this, the King instructs Pedrarias to show Balboa the greatest respect and to consult him on all matters pertaining to the conquest and government of Castilla de Oro.

Because of all this, Pedrarias is to release and exonerate Balboa, lifting all charges brought up against him in the matter of the clandestine recruitment of an expeditionary party.