These Privateers were no sooner sail'd out, but the Crews of some of them, who had been pardoned, rose against their Commanders, and turned themselves to their old Trade: In this Number was _Mary Read_. It is true, she often declared, that the Life of a Pyrate was what she always abhor'd, and went into it only upon Compulsion, both this Time, and before, intending to quit it, whenever a fair Opportunity should offer it self; yet some of the Evidence against her, upon her Tryal, who were forced Men, and had sailed with her, deposed upon Oath, that in Times of Action, no Person amongst them were more resolute, or ready to Board or undertake any Thing that was hazardous, as she and _Anne Bonny_; and particularly at the Time they were attack'd and taken, when they came to close Quarters, none kept the Deck except _Mary Read_ and _Anne Bonny_, and one more; upon which, she, _Mary Read_, called to those under Deck, to come up and fight like Men, and finding they did not stir, fired her Arms down the Hold amongst them, killing one, and wounding others. This was part of the Evidence against her, which she denied; which, whether true or no, thus much is certain, that she did not want Bravery, nor indeed was she less remarkable for her Modesty, according to her Notions of Virtue: Her Sex was not so much as suspected by any Person on Board, till _Anne Bonny_, who was not altogether so reserved in point of Chastity, took a particular liking to her; in short, _Anne Bonny_ took her for a handsome young Fellow, and for some Reasons best known to herself, first discovered her Sex to _Mary Read; Mary Read_ knowing what she would be at, and being very sensible of her own Incapacity that Way, was forced to come to a right Understanding with her, and so to the great Disappointment of _Anne Bonny_, she let her know she was a Woman also; but this Intimacy so disturb'd Captain _Rackam_, who was the Lover and Gallant of _Anne Bonny_, that he grew furiously jealous, so that he told _Anne Bonny_, he would cut her new Lover's Throat, therefore, to quiet him, she let him into the Secret also.