Mary Read

"'Nothing is true, everything is permitted.' This is the world's only certainty."

―Mary Read discussing the Creed with Edward Kenway, 1716.

Mary Read (c. 1685 – 1721) was an English pirate and member of the West Indies Brotherhood of Assassins, trained by the Mentor Ah Tabai. She was also one of the founders of the Pirate Republic of Nassau.

In order to facilitate her career as a pirate, she posed as James Kidd, an illegitimate son of the late William Kidd.

Biography

Early life

Little is known about Mary's childhood years. It was suggested by Charles Johnson, author of A General History of the Pyrates, that Mary's mother began dressing her in boy's clothes at an early age to pass her off as the son of another man, but the legitimacy of this claim is unknown.

In her teenage years, Mary began a career as a sailor that eventually granted her a position with the Royal Navy. There she met her first husband, a Flemish soldier and comrade; however, he was killed soon after their wedding. With little life left for her in Europe, Mary set sail for the West Indies, where she resumed the practice of dressing as a man and took on the alias of James Kidd.

A short time before the establishment of the Pirate Republic in Nassau, Mary met Ah Tabai, the Mentor of the West Indies Assassins, in Spanish Town, Jamaica. She trusted him at once, sensing a "sort of wisdom" in him, and became an Assassin under his tutelage soon after.

Life of piracy

"Why look! It's the bastard son of the late William Kidd! Still a mere boy, and yet... ten times the demon his father was."

―Edward Kenway on "James Kidd", 1715.

In September 1715, Mary, under the alias of James Kidd, met with fellow pirates Edward Kenway, Edward Thatch, and Benjamin Hornigold in Nassau. Mary noticed the Assassin robes Edward was wearing and inquired as to how they came into his possession, to which he responded that he got them off a corpse. In reality, the robes had belonged to the Master Assassin Duncan Walpole, who was attempting to betray the Order and join the Templars before Edward killed him.

Mary telling Edward about the Observatory

Edward expressed an interest in locating a place called the Observatory, which Mary claimed to be a myth, likening it to the Fountain of Youth or El Dorado. Edward subsequently followed Mary to Andreas Island to take part in a lucrative plantation raid, and the two struck up a friendly camaraderie.

Following the acquisition of Nassau by pirate forces, Mary met with Edward, his quartermaster Adéwalé, and Thatch at Salt Lagoon, to discuss how to better protect their "Pirate Republic" from British recapture. Thatch proposed they capture the Spanish galleon El Arca del Maestro, which Edward later accomplished by assassinating its owner, the Templar Julien du Casse, allowing Thatch to commandeer the ship.

Edward subsequently took the island of Great Inagua, which du Casee had been using as his base of operations, for himself. There, Mary met with Edward in March 1716 before leading him to a Mayan stela in the jungle. She asked him to complete a puzzle to retrieve the stela and goaded him into using his Eagle Vision, which she described as a "kind of shimmering" and "the light of life".

Edward and Mary looking at the Assassin bureaus map

After confirming her suspicions about Edward's abilities, Mary showed him a set of tunnels leading to du Casse's manor, where they discovered maps pertaining to the location of Assassin bureaus throughout the Caribbean. Edward admitted to selling the maps to the Templars himself, and Mary, perturbed, suggested he should warn the targeted Assassins.

As she was about to leave port, Edward claimed that Mary knew more about the Observatory than she had previously suggested. In response, Mary advised him to meet her in Tulum in a few weeks' time.

Tulum and the Sage

"We're Assassins and we follow a Creed, aye. But it does not command us to act or submit... only to be wise."

―Mary Read explaining the Creed to Edward, 1716.

Weeks later, Mary rendezvoused with Edward near the Assassin stronghold on Tulum, where he angrily berated her for forcing him to sneak through hostile territory, past the Assassin sentries. Though Ah Tabai was furious with Edward for his ignorant collaboration with the Templars and killing a number of Assassins in nd, captur, Mary calmly informed him of Edward's possession of "the sense" and requested Edward be allowed inside an important Mayan temple.er and an elusive assassination target, leaving the area by ship.

Edward and Mary in the Mayan temple

After claiming he would recognize the Sage Bartholomew Roberts if he saw the man again, Edward was allowed to explore the ruin alongside Mary. Along the way, she explained the nature of the Creed to Edward, but was ultimately dissatisfied with his interpretation; although Edward took an interest in the Creed's second clause, Mary asserted that he did not actually understand what it meant. She also revealed that the Assassins had targeted Edward for assassination following his actions in Havana, and that it was only on her request that they had relented.

At the center of the temple, Mary and Edward eventually unlocked a bust of the Sage, which the latter confirmed resembled Roberts. Returning to inform Ah Tabai of their discovery, Mary and Edward found that British soldiers had taken the compound, capturing many Assassins and Edward's crew. After fighting off the British, Mary spotted Laurens Prins, a Dutch slaver and an elusive assassination target, leaving the area by ship.

Mary explaining the Assassins and Templars to Edward

Prior to Edward's dismissal from Tulum, Mary brought him to a temple at the center of the compound, explaining how she had joined the Assassins and noting the long-standing nature of the war between Assassins and Templars. Inside the temple, she showed Edward a door that could be unlocked with Mayan keystones located via the stelae. She encouraged Edward to seek out the keystones, claiming that unlocking the door would garner the respect of the Assassins in Tulum, as well as grant him a mysterious and ancient reward.

Pursuit of Laurens Prins

"I been stalking that pig for a week now, charting his moves! And here I find not one but TWO of my targets... and you rob me of both!"

―Mary on Prins and Torres, 1717.

The following year, Mary ran into Edward in Kingston, as they were both following Prins and Laureano de Torres y Ayala, the Grand Master of the Caribbean Templars. Mary was prepared to assassinate her two targets, but Edward restrained her, urging her to wait until Prins led them to Roberts, whom the slaver held prisoner.

Mary and Edward observing Torres and Prins

Mary reluctantly consented to go along with Edward's plan. However, Prins detected them, forcing the two to run away. Mary attempted to assassinate Prins against Edward's wishes, but he forcibly prevented her from doing so, insisting they try to use Prins to reach Roberts again. Enraged, Mary nonetheless agreed to rendezvous with Edward at Prins' manor, demanding that he assist with the assassination in return.

That night, Mary and Edward met atop a windmill off Prins' property. Surveying the manor, Mary noted that it would take more than stealth for them to reach Prins. She suggested that she distract the guards, giving Edward a chance to neutralize them. Mary subsequently removed her bandana and reddened her lips with her own blood, revealing her identity as a woman, much to Edward's surprise.

Mary revealing her true identity to Edward

Mary then approached the estate's gates, feigning injury, and killed the guards that came to her aid. She infiltrated the manor and found Roberts, only to discover he was working for Prins. He held her at gunpoint at the same time Edward assassinated Prins, but she managed to escape after Roberts informed Edward of his true allegiance. Roberts then shot the alarm bell and made his escape, followed shortly thereafter by his two would-be rescuers.

After reaching safety and regrouping with Edward, Mary confessed her true name at his request. However, she warned him not to tell anyone, or she would "unman" him.

Interim period

Mary: "For Christ's sake, Edward. Don't anything but the stink of riches wrinkle your nose?"

Edward: "What's got into you, man?"

Mary: "Reality, mate. Reality."

—Mary criticizing Edward's lifestyle, 1718.

Mary visiting Edward after the escape from Nassau

In November 1718, Mary arrived in Great Inagua to find Edward recovering from a wild party he had hosted, reacting with disgust to his continued indifference to finding a greater purpose. The two did not meet again until after Edward escaped Isla Providencia, where he and Charles Vane had been marooned by Jack Rackham. Edward returned to Great Inagua to find that Rackham had barely lasted a few months as captain before Mary and Adéwalé overpowered him.

Edward then returned to his search for Bartholomew Roberts in hopes the man would lead to the Observatory. Mary pleaded with him to forget about his pursuit of riches and instead work with the Assassins, but he ignored her once again.

During Edward's search, Mary became better acquainted with Anne Bonny, a barmaid in Nassau, with whom she struck up a lasting bond. Anne's partner, Rackham, threatened by Mary's attentions, attempted to start a brawl with her. Unwilling to take part in a meaningless altercation, Mary was compelled to reveal her true gender, and soon her real identity was well-known throughout the West Indies.

Capture and death

Edward: "You're such a pain in the arse. Damn it, you should have been the one to outlast me."

Mary: "I've done my part. Will you?"

Edward: "If you came with me, I could. Mary?"

Mary: "I'll be with you, Kenway. I will."

—Mary urging Edward to make amends for his actions before her death, 1721.

Anne and Mary being tried in Kingston

In October 1720, while Mary was sailing as a part of Rackham's crew, their ship was attacked by a sloop that was commissioned by Jamaica's Governor Woodes Rogers to take out Rackham. Being that most of the crew were drunk, many of the pirates provided little resistance, with only Mary, Anne, and an unknown man fighting to their full potential.

Eventually, the crew was imprisoned in Port Royal, Kingston and sentenced to be hanged. At the trial, Mary and Anne were surprised to see Edward, who had also been imprisoned in Port Royal after being betrayed by Bartholomew Roberts. During the trial, Mary and Anne revealed that they were both pregnant, which led to their executions being delayed, since British law prevented pregnant women from being executed.

Mary and Anne were subsequently returned to their cells, and four months later, Mary gave birth to a baby girl. However, in accordance with the pardon, her child was taken away, and Mary soon became ill due to the prison's unsanitary conditions.

Mary passing away

The two women were eventually rescued by Edward and Ah Tabai, who successfully infiltrated the prison and took out the guards stationed inside. Despite this, Mary was too ill to leave, even with Edward's insistence. With her dying breath, Mary asked him to redeem himself for her sake, and said she would always be with him. Refusing to leave her behind, Edward carried her body to Ah Tabai's boat, and she was taken to Tulum for burial.

Legacy

"I once knew someone like you. A fellow free spirit who hid the fact that she was a woman... And lived by the needle of her own compass. I didn't spare you out of mere pity. You have a cause you hold dear to your heart... And you're willing to bear its weight and fight to achieve your heart's desire. I can respect that. That's all."

―Edward to Shimazu Saito, on Mary, 1725.

Mary's death was what ultimately pushed Edward to realize the error of his selfish ways and decide to join the Assassins to live up to Mary's expectations of him to better himself. Prior to leaving the West Indies and returning to England in 1722, Edward fondly recalled all his deceased friends, Mary among them.

Edward reminiscing Mary and other pirates

Years later, Edward still remembered Mary as a good friend and her death continued to weigh heavy on his mind. In 1725, after being tasked to assassinate the Templar and Shimazu clan samurai Shimazu Saito, Edward decided to seek an alliance with her instead. This was because Saito reminded him of Mary as they were both female warriors who hid their true gender and never stopped fighting for what they believed in despite everything thrown at them.

In 2023, when Edward's descendant Noa Kim came into contact with a crescent-shaped Piece of Eden in the SS Ourang Medan's shipwreck, the artifact's powers, combined with the Bleeding Effect, caused Noa to experience several hallucinations of Edward's memories. One of these visions depicted Mary alongside Edward's other friends, including Charles Vane, Benjamin Hornigold, and Edward Thatch.

Personality and traits

"Mary was fond of you, Edward. She saw something in your bearing that gave her hope you might one day fight with us."

―Ah Tabai telling Edward about Mary's thoughts of him, 1721.

Mary was an easygoing and adventurous woman, readily presenting as a man to facilitate her career and life as a pirate. Though she was one of the de facto leaders of the Pirate Republic in Nassau, she largely left its governing to Thatch and Hornigold, focusing her energy on external pursuits.

Mary with Adéwalé at Salt Lagoon

Deeply dedicated to the Assassin Order, Mary believed the Creed exemplified a love for life and liberty that crossed cultural bounds, and she was driven in her efforts to support their cause. She intensely pursued her targets, chasing one down in the street and using her feminine appearance to trick the guards at Laurens Prins' estate.

Mary believed that there was something special about Edward Kenway; she spoke on his behalf to her Assassin brethren, and tried repeatedly to convince him to look beyond his greed. She often became irritated with Edward's selfishness, believing he was not living up to his full potential. However, she remained hopeful that he would see the error of his ways and join the Assassins in time, a belief that was realized after, and because of, her death.

Skills and equipment

Mary was a master of disguise, pretending to be a man for most of her life. She wore a green leather coat with a white shirt underneath, as well as a pair of boots. When disguised as a man, her shirt was folded up, and she wore a bandana. She would also put small amounts of her blood on her lips if she needed to appear feminine. This allowed her to easily trick guards.

Mary was equipped with dual Hidden Blades, along with a pistol, cutlass, smoke bombs, as well as a blowpipe. She could easily hold her own in combat, taking down several British sailors before her arrest. She was capable of various assassination techniques, and also had skill at lockpicking.

Mary feigning injury to trick a pair of guards into opening the gates

As an Assassin, Mary was a proficient freerunner, and could perform the traditional Leap of Faith. She was also a skilled swimmer, diving through the caves underneath Tulum with ease. As exemplified during the attack on Tulum and her infiltration of Laurens Prins' manor, Mary was an expert at stealth, using the environment to move around undetected. Mary was also adept at social stealth, moving through the crowds when tailing her target.

Although she was rarely seen captaining any ships, Mary was a skilled sailor thanks to her time in the Royal Navy. When sailing with Jack Rackham, Mary served as the de facto captain of his ship for most of the time.

Trivia

• It is possible for Edward to leave Mary's body behind in the area between the prison and the boat, initiating a slightly different cutscene. ^{[citation needed]}
• Originally, Edward was meant to witness and participate in Maryand Anne Bonny's battle against the British, ending with their imprisonment, but this idea was dropped during the early stages of development.
• Olivia Morgan, Mary's voice actor, stated her voice came about because of how much she lived her life as a man. Her recordings often went to second takes as her voice still did not sound low enough.
• In the game's novelization, Edward became somewhat attracted to Mary after she revealed her true identity to him, to the extent that he was disappointed when she uses her James Kidd persona again later on.

Appearances

An image gallery is available for Mary Read

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Black Flag
• Assassin's Creed: Awakening (non-canon)
• Assassin's Creed: Unity (drawing only)
• Assassin's Creed: Initiates (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed: Memories
• Assassin's Creed: The Official Collection
• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion
• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple (flashback and hallucination only)
• Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game