Pieces of Eight

Being a pirate means traveling over seas in search of treasure to plunder. Over the centuries pirates have sailed all over world accomplishing just that. There have been many seaports that have lead the pirates to find many treasures and some have lead them to find none at all. The seaports that have lead them to treasure are extremely important to these pirates because they have made these pirates rich, and have gave them the reputation they have today.

Nombre de Dios, which lies in the corner of a bay in Isthmus of panama was an important port for Francis Drake. Although, Drake wasn't a pirate, he committed many piracy acts. Before planning an attack he visited Nombre de Dios disguised as a Spanish merchant in 1571. He found that there was the Kings treasure-house along with sheltered coves where the treasure would be placed for any future expeditions. 

In 1572, he returned to Nombre de Dios with his men and attacked the harbor but was unsuccessful in finding treasure because the treasure houses were empty. Drake did not give up though. He planned a second attack, but this time it was on the mule train that transported all the goods to Nombre de Dios but again his attack was unsuccessful because his men got drunk and set off the train.

About a month later he raided the small town of Venta Cruces and met a group of French Huguentos which informed him about a mule train heading to Nombre de Dios and along side the Frenchmen, and the blacks, the Englishmen pounced on the mule train and found much treasure.These 190 mules in the mule train were carrying 300 pounds weight of silver each. This was exactly what Drake had been waiting for. 

Another important port to Drake was the port of Valparaiso in which he plundered, 8,000 Euro in gold and 1,770 jars of wine. And he didn't stop there. Drake then intercepted Cacafuego and that where Drake plundered the most treasure. This included 13 chest of royals of plate, 80 pounds of gold, and 26 tons of uncoined silver. This took his men six days to transfer onto his ship. 

Drake then returned to England to meet with Queen Elizabeth in which she knighted him and let him keep 10,000 Eros ad split 8,000 Euros among his crew. 

These ports were important to Francis Drake because they provided him with lots of treasure and made a name for him back in England. And also gave a kick start to his plundering.