On the following day he was joined by an English barque of the Isle of Wight, which brought in a captured Spanish _caravel_. The English captain, Rowse, understanding Drake’s purpose of attacking _Nombre de Dios_, agreed to act in concert with him. Leaving the three ships and the _caravel_ in charge of Rowse, Drake, taking with him fifty-three men, proceeded in four pinnaces and a shallop to the Isles of _Pinos_, which he reached on the 22nd of July, and where he made an alliance with some runaway Indians who had fled from their Spanish masters and were called _Symerons_. Proceeding silently by night, he came before _Nombre de Dios_, where he landed without opposition. He and his men boldly attacked the place, but in the course of a desperate struggle which occurred on the town being alarmed, Drake was dangerously wounded, and had to be conveyed on board ship.
It gives a very strange idea of the state of things then existing between England and Spain when we read that immediately after this unprovoked attack by Drake on _Nombre de Dios_, that captain was visited by a _Hidalgo_, who protested that the object of his coming was to see and admire one who had shown such courage. No doubt this gentleman had other objects in view; but it is somewhat remarkable that he should have trusted his person in a pirate’s den; for it must be remembered that, as England was not then at war with Spain, Drake can only be described as a buccaneer. This _Hidalgo_ was, however, very courteously received, and departed protesting that he had never been honoured so much in his life.
The pinnaces now returned to the Isle of _Pinos_, where Drake parted company with Captain Rowse. He next despatched his brother to examine the river _Chagre_, and on his return he departed for _Cartagena_, where he took two Spanish ships. His next enterprise was against a great ship of Seville, which he obtained possession of by fighting. The town being alarmed, Drake determined to burn one of his ships, in order that he might have the means of manning his pinnaces. He then proceeded to the Sound of _Darien_, where they cleared a space of ground to build houses. Drake then went with his brother, with two pinnaces, to the _Rio Grande_, passing out of sight of _Cartagena_, between which place and _Tolon_ they took six frigates laden with provisions. Three days later they arrived at _Pinos_. On the third of November Drake fell in with a Spanish ship, which he captured.