González Dávila first appears in historical records…

González Dávila first appears in historical records in 1508, when he received a royal commission to examine accounts and tax records of estates.

He probably traveled soon afterward to Santo Domingo for his assignment, and to establish himself.

In 1511, from Valladolid, Spain, he had received the title of Accountant of Hispaniola, replacing Cristóbal de Cuéllar.

His enhanced position had enabled him to become a landowner and he had soon acquired an estate with over two hundred enslaved Indians.

In 1518, González had delivered a report to King Carlos that was highly critical of the colonial management of Hispaniola.

He was at Ávila in Spain when he was approached by Andrés Niño, who from early youth had navigated vessels for the Portuguese government to the coast of Africa and the East Indies, and had gone in 1515 to Panama, where he acquired the reputation of a skilled pilot.

Niño had come to Spain to seek Court support for an exploration of the Pacific coast of present Panama, but his first attempts had failed.

He now encountered González, a retainer of the bishop of Palencia, Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, who is president of the Council of the Indies.

With his help, González and Niño had obtained approval for the venture from King Carlos in June 1519.

An expedition had been planned, with González as captain, Niño as pilot, and Andrés de Cereceda as treasurer.

González and Niño had immediately departed for the Indies, and then proceeded to Acla in Panama, arriving in January 1520.

González presents his royal commission to the governor of Panama, authorizing him to examine the tax records of the colony of Panama and prepare the expedition for exploration of the Pacific coast of Central America.

The governor, known as Pedrarias, resents this scrutiny of his taxing authority and encroachment on territory for which he has his own plans.

He blocks investigation of the taxes, and inhibits Gonzalez's efforts to obtain seaworthy ships, supplies, and men for the expedition.

Unable to acquire ships, …