Here the mother liv’d three or four years, till what money she had was almost gone; then she thought of returning to London, and considering that her husband’s mother was in some circumstances, she did not doubt but to prevail upon her, to provide for the child, if she could but pass it upon her for the same, but the changing a girl into a boy, seem’d a difficult piece of work, and how to deceive an experienced old woman, in such a point, was altogether as impossible; however, she ventured to dress it up as a boy, brought it to town, and presented it to her mother-in-law, as her husband’s son; the old woman would have taken it, to have bred it up, but the mother pretended it would break her heart, to part with it; so it was agreed betwixt them, that the child should live with the mother, and the supposed grandmother should allow a crown a week for its maintenance.
Thus the mother gained her point, she bred up her daughter as a boy, and when she grew up to some sense, she thought proper to let her into the secret of her birth, to induce her to conceal her sex. It happen’d that the grandmother died, by which means the subsistence that came from that quarter, ceased, and they were more and more reduced in their circumstances; wherefore she was obliged to put her daughter out, to wait on a French lady, as a foot-boy, being now thirteen years of age: here she did not live long, for growing bold and strong, and having also a roving mind, she entered herself on board a man-of-war, where she served some time, then quitted it, went over into Flanders, and carried arms in a regiment of foot, as a cadet; and though upon all actions, she behaved herself with a great deal of bravery, yet she could not get a commission, they being generally bought and sold; therefore she quitted the service, and took on in a regiment of horse; she behaved so well in several engagements, that she got the esteem of all her officers; but her comrade who was a Fleming, happening to be a handsome young fellow, she falls in love with him, and from that time, grew a little more negligent in her duty, so that, it seems, Mars and Venus could not be served at the same time; her arms and accoutrements which were always kept in the best order, were quite neglected: ’tis true, when her comrade was ordered out upon a party, she used to go without being commanded, and frequently run herself into danger, where she had no business, only to be near him; the rest of the troopers little suspecting the secret cause which moved her to this behaviour, fancied her to be mad, and her comrade himself could not account for this strange alteration in her, but love is ingenious, and as they lay in the same tent, and were constantly together, she found a way of letting him discover her sex, without appearing that it was done with design.
He was much surprised at what he found out, and not a little pleased, taking it for granted, that he should have a mistress solely to himself, which is an unusual thing in a camp, since there is scarce one of those campaign ladies, that is ever true to a troop or company; so that he thought of nothing but gratifying his passions with very little ceremony; but he found himself strangely mistaken, for she proved very reserved and modest, and resisted all his temptations, and at the same time was so obliging and insinuating in her carriage, that she quite changed his purpose, so far from thinking of making her his mistress, he now courted her for a wife.
This was the utmost wish of her heart, in short, they exchanged promises, and when the campaign was over, and the regiment marched into winter quarters, they bought woman’s apparel for her, with such money as they could make up betwixt them, and were publicly married.
The story of two troopers marrying each other, made a great noise, so that several officers were drawn by curiosity to assist at the ceremony, and they agreed among themselves that every one of them should make a small present to the bride, towards housekeeping, in consideration of her having been their fellow soldier. Thus being set up, they seemed to have a desire of quitting the service, and settling in the world; the adventure of their love and marriage had gained them so much favour, that they easily obtained their discharge, and they immediately set up an eating house or ordinary, which was the Sign of the Three Horseshoes, near the Castle of Breda, where they soon run into a good trade, a great many officers eating with them constantly.
But this happiness lasted not long, for the husband soon died, and the Peace of Ryswick being concluded, there was no resort of officers to Breda, as usual; so that the widow having little or no trade, was forced to give up housekeeping, and her substance being by degrees quite spent, she again assumes her man’s apparel, and going into Holland, there takes on in a regiment of foot, quarter’d in one of the frontier towns: here she did not remain long, there was no likelihood of preferment in time of peace, therefore she took a resolution of seeking her fortune another way; and withdrawing from the regiment, ships herself on board of a vessel bound for the West Indies.
It happen’d this ship was taken by English pirates, and Mary Read was the only English person on board, they kept her amongst them, and having plundered the ship, let it go again; after following this trade for some time, the King’s proclamation came out,
