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157 



The LIFE 0/ Mary R E AD, 



N'^O W we are to begin a Hiftory full of fur- 

 prizing Turns and Adventures ^ I mean, thnt 

 of Mary Read and Anne Bonny ^ alias Bonn^ which 

 were the true Names of thefe two Pyrates ^ the 

 odd Incidents of their rambling Lives are iuch, 

 that fome may be tempted to think the whole 

 Story no better than a Novel or Romance-, but 

 iince it is fupported by many thoufand Witneffes, 

 I mean the People of Jamalcay who were prefent 

 at their Tryals, and heard the Story of their Lives, 

 upon the firft difcovery of their Sex • the Truth ot 

 it can be no more contefted, than that there were 

 iuch fif en in the World, as Roberts and Black-beardy 

 who were Pyrates. 



Mary Read was born in England^ her Mother was 

 married young, to a Man who uied the Sea, who 

 going a Voyage foon after their Marriage, left her 

 with Child, which Child proved to be a Boy. As 

 to the Husband, whether he was caft away, or 

 died in the Voyage, Mary Read could not tell ^ but 

 hotvever, he never returned more neverthelefs, 

 the Mother, who was young and airy, met with 

 an Accident, which has often happened to Women 

 who are young, and do not take a great deal of 

 Care; which was, Ihe foon proved with Child 

 again, without a Husband to Father it, but how, 

 or by whom,*none but her felf could tell, tor flie 

 carried a pretty good Reputation among her Neigh- 

 bours. Finding her Burthen ^row, in order to 

 conceal her Shame, Ihe takes a formal Leave of her 

 Husband's Relations, giving out, that ihe went to 

 live-with fome Friends ot her own, in the Country : 

 Accordingly flie went away, and carried with her 

 her young Son^ at this Time, not a Year old : Soon 



after 



