The ingenuity of the mother being successful, she reared the daughter as a boy.  But as she grew up, she informed her of the secret of her birth, in order that she might conceal her sex.  The grandmother, however, dying, the support from that quarter failed, and she was obliged to hire her out as a footboy to a French lady.  The strength and manly disposition of this supposed boy increased with her years, and leaving that servile employment, she engaged on board a man-of-war.

The volatile disposition of the youth did not permit her to remain long in this station, and she next went into Flanders, and joined a regiment of foot as a cadet.  Though in every action she conducted herself with the greatest bravery, yet she could not obtain a commission, as they were in general bought and sold.  She accordingly quitted that service, and enlisted into a regiment of horse; there she behaved herself so valiantly, that she gained the esteem of all her officers.  It, however, happened, that her comrade was a handsome young Fleming, and she fell passionately in love with him.  The violence of her feelings rendered her negligent of her duty, and effected such a change in her behaviour as attracted the attention of all.  Both her comrade and the rest of the regiment deemed her mad.  Love, however, is inventive, and as they slept in the same tent, she found means to discover her sex without any seeming design.  He was both surprised and pleased, supposing that he would have a mistress to himself; but he was greatly mistaken, and he found that it was necessary to court her for his wife.  A mutual attachment took place, and, as soon as convenient, women’s clothes were provided for her, and they were publicly married.

The singularity of two troopers marrying caused a general conversation, and many of the officers honored the ceremony with their presence, and resolved to make presents to the bride, to provide her with necessaries.  After marriage they were desirous to quit the service, and their discharge being easily obtained, they set up an ordinary under the sign of the “Three Shoes,” and soon acquired a considerable run of business.

But Mary Read’s felicity was of short duration; the husband died, and peace being concluded, her business diminished.  Under these circumstances she again resumed her man’s dress, and going into Holland, enlisted into a regiment of foot quartered in one of the frontier towns.  But there being no prospect of preferment in time of peace, she went on board a vessel bound for the West Indies.

During the voyage, the vessel was captured by English pirates, and as Mary was the only English person on board, they detained her, and having plundered the vessel of what they chose, allowed it to depart.  Mary continued in that unlawful commerce for some time, but the royal pardon being tendered to all those in the West Indies, who should, before a specified day, surrender, the crew to which she was attached,