The Captivity Narratives of Richard Hasleton and John Rawlins

In stark contrast, the second text documents the explosive mutiny led by John Rawlins (1622). Moving from endurance to active rebellion, this account details how a skilled Plymouth pilot orchestrated a daring uprising aboard the ship Exchange. Through strategic cunning and violent force, Rawlins and his confederates slaughtered their captors and reclaimed their freedom, transforming the captive into the conqueror.

Together, these primary sources provide historians and students with a comprehensive view of the Anglo-Ottoman encounter. They illuminate the spectrum of the captive experience—from the solitary suffering of the martyr to the collective violence of the mutineer—serving as essential documents for understanding the formation of British imperial identity and the rhetoric of liberty in the 17th century.

Titles included in this volume: Strange and wonderfull things. Happened to Richard Hasleton, borne at Braintree in Essex, in his ten yeares trauailes in many forraine countries. Penned as he deliuered it from his ovvne mouth. The famous and wonderfull recoverie of a ship of Bristoll, called the Exchange, from the Turkish Pirates of Argier With the vnmatchable attempts and good successe of Iohn Rawlins, pilot in her, and other slaues; who in the end with the slaughter of about 40.

of the Turkes and Moores, brought the ship into Plimouth the 13. of February last; with the captaine a renegado, and 5. Turkes more, besides the redemption of 24. men, and one boy, from Turkish slauerie.