DURING THE GOLDEN AGE OF PIRACY, from about 1680 to 1730, some of the most famous pirates were women. Two of the most notorious were Irishwoman Anne Bonny and Brit Mary Read. According to legend, when their ship was attacked by the British in 1720, Bonny and Read “drew their pistols and cutlasses and fought back bravely while the rest of the drunken pirates cowered in the ship’s hold.”

The pair met during a near-hookup (life is confusing when your job requires you live in drag) and soon became close friends. Exactly how close is anyone’s guess. Daniel Defoe, the author of Robinson Crusoe, wrote: “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….”

Bonny and Read eventually lost that battle with the British navy. Captured and put on trial, they narrowly escaped execution by pleading pregnancy, “Mi’Lord we plead our bellies.” Ye olde sly wenches!