1. At first the soldiers of Merida did not think that their captain ought to have accepted the offices he did, and that he ought not to march under the governor's banner, but rather go independently, as he came from another district, under his own flag, and with his own followers, to do what lay in his power, or even to show prodigies of valour.

But Pedro Bravo, by accepting the several important offices, considered he was acting in accordance with the rules of honour, as well as for the benefit of himself and his men, and, in truth, he served his king right well in all he did.

The governor, still considering that he had not conferred sufficient honours on Bravo, offered likewise to assist his soldiers and followers in anything they required. Some of the soldiers, in order to find out to what point the governor's liberality extended, rather than that they required it, said, although they had come most willingly to serve the king at their own expense, and what they required they were willing to pay for, they would, however, accept from his generous hands what they were much in want of, namely, shoes for their horses. The governor sent orders to a merchant to give each soldier, on his account, a dozen horseshoes, with corresponding nails; he, however, gave instructions that they were only to have the horseshoes and nothing else; and with this present he considered they were abundantly provided, and at little cost. Bravo's soldiers thanked the governor for his offer, but, as it really was not their wish to accept anything, the governor's offer of the horseshoes amused them.