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 House-keeping, 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 Horse-Shoes_, 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 _Reswick_ 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 House-keeping, 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_ Pyrates, 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, and was publish'd in all Parts of the _West-Indies_, for pardoning such Pyrates, who should voluntarily surrender themselves by a certain Day therein mentioned. The Crew of _Mary Read_ took the Benefit of this Proclamation, and having surrender'd, liv'd quietly on Shore; but Money beginning to grow short, and hearing that Captain _Woods Rogers_, Governor of the Island of _Providence_, was fitting out some Privateers to cruise against the _Spaniards_, she with several others embark'd for that Island, in order to go upon the privateering Account, being resolved to make her Fortune one way or other.