Pánfilo de Narváez leaves Spain with his fleet on June 27, 1527; Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca serves as treasurer and chief legal officer. Their mission is to conquer and govern the area of La Florida. The fleet docks in Santo Domingo for 45 days, where 140 men abandon the expedition. From Santo Domingo, the fleet sails to Santiago in Cuba for more supplies. Narváez sends two ships to pick up the supplies; Cabeza de Vaca oversees one of these ships. While some men, including Cabeza de Vaca, are on land, a storm sinks the two supply ships, with the loss of 60 men and 20 horses. The survivors are forced to wait for Narváez, who, though also battered by the storm, arrives with four remaining ships. They winter in Cuba, where Narváez orders Cabeza de Vaca to take command and sail for the port of Xagua and remain there until February.

In February 1528, Narváez (aka the chapter title’s governor) arrives in Xagua with a brig he purchased in Trinidad. He also brings along a pilot named Miruelo, who supposedly knows the area and has been on the river Palms.