1. All being now arranged, as regarded the government of the expedition, the next thing to settle was, the best and readiest means of entering Pirú. Their hopes of success hourly increased, and nothing could persuade them to the contrary. After having held many councils, and weighed their measures in a thousand ways, they resolved that when the brigan tines were ready (which were to be built of larger dimensions than the old vessels), they would adopt measures to get out to sea; and as to the victualling, they resolved to go to the island of Margarita, where, owing to the slight resistance the few inhabitants of that place could make, in a few days they would be able to lay in provisions, such as bread, meat, and water, which they were to procure in four days, and if there were any people there who wished to join them, they determined to take them in the brigantines, and (without stopping at any other place) to make for the port of Nombre de Dios, and, landing at a river hard by, at night, the people being well armed, to march straight to the town of Nombre de Dios with such caution that, before they were perceived, they would be masters of the place, as well as of the Sierra of Capira (in which was the pass to the city of Panamá), for having possession of this pass, no communication could be made with Panamá; then to march onwards (leaving the pass guarded) with the rest of the people and their Prince, until they secretly arrived upon the city of Nombre de Dios, to kill the ministers and officers of the king, and such inhabitants as they considered unfavourable to them, to plunder and burn the place down, leaving it in such a state, that those who had been spared by flight, would not be able to fortify themselves there, nor offer opposition.