Read an Excerpt from 'A General History of the Robberies & Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates'

Her [Mary’s] 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 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 disturbed Captain Rackam, who was the lover and gallant of Anne Bonny he would cut her new lover’s throat; therefore, to quiet him, she let him into the secret also.

Captain Rackam, as he was enjoined, kept the thing a secret from the ship’s company; yet, notwithstanding all her cunning and reserve, love found her out in this disguise and hindered her from forgetting her sex. In their cruise they took a great number of ships belonging to Jamaica, and other parts of the West Indies, bound to and from England; and whenever they met any good artist [craftsman] or other person that might be of any great use to their company, if he was not willing to enter it was their custom to keep him by force. Among these was a young fellow of a most engaging behaviour, or, at least, he was so in the eyes of Mary Read, who became so smitten with his person and address that she could rest neither night or day. But as there is nothing more ingenious than love, it was no hard matter for her, who had before been practised in these wiles, to find a way to let him discover her sex. She first insinuated herself into his liking by talking against the life of a pirate, which he was altogether averse to; so they became messmates and strict companions. When she found he had a friendship for her as a man, she suffered the discovery to be made, by carelessly showing her breasts, which were very white.

It is true, she had fought before, when she had been insulted by some of those fellows, but now it was altogether in her lovers’ cause; she stood, as it were betwixt him and death, as if she could not live without him. If he had regard for her before, this action would have bound him to her forever; but there was no occasions for ties or obligations, his inclination towards her was sufficient. In fine, they applied their troth to each other, which Mary Read said she looked upon to be as good as marriage in conscience as if it had been done by a minister in church…

A General History of the Robberies & Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson is available exclusively from www.foliosociety.com