In Tierra Firme and in the islands of the Spanish West Indies the new laws were partially obeyed, although complaints were still frequent of the ill-treatment of natives, of their being punished with stripes if they dared to complain, and of the arrival in Panamá of cargoes of slaves from Nicaragua. The priests were earnest in their protestations, and their reports to the emperor abounded in lofty expressions of concern for the cause of Christ and of humanity. The ecclesiastical and secular interests were ever at variance. Should the alcaldes render any decision that threatened to work adversely against the authority of the church, they were excommunicated, and thus rendered incapable, in the eyes of the people, of discharging the functions of their office. The governor and the bishop were continually at war, the latter cloaking under his pretended zeal for the conversion of the Indians, and the former under the pretext of upholding the dignity of the crown, the real purpose for which each was too often striving—that of gathering into his coffers the gold of his Majesty's vassals.[XIV‑20] CHAPTER XV. PANAMÁ AND PERU. 1538-1550. ADMINISTRATION OF DOCTOR ROBLES—INTEROCEANIC COMMUNICATION—PROPOSED CHANGE OF THE SITE OF PANAMÁ—NOMBRE DE DIOS AND ITS TRADE—THE ISTHMUS THE HIGHWAY OF COMMERCE BETWEEN THE HEMISPHERES—VASCO NUÑEZ VELA LANDS IN PERU—GONZALO PIZARRO AT THE HEAD OF A REBELLION—DISSOLUTION OF THE AUDIENCIA OF LOS REYES AND ARREST OF THE VICEROY—HIS RELEASE—HIS DEFEAT AND DEATH AT AÑAQUITO—GONZALO'S DREAMS OF CONQUEST—HE DESPATCHES BACHICAO TO PANAMÁ—HINOJOSA'S EXPEDITION—HIS BLOODLESS CONQUEST OF THE PROVINCE—MELCHOR VERDUGO'S INVASION—PEDRO DE LA GASCA—HIS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REVOLUTIONISTS—GASCA LANDS IN PERU—EXECUTION OF GONZALO PIZARRO.