Author

John Guy, Governor of the Cupers Cove Colony

Transcribed by

William Gilbert

To: Sir Percival Willoughby From: John Guy, Governor of the Cupers Cove Colony October 6th, 1610

Right Worshipful Sir: [Trip from England]

You may be pleased to know that we sailed from the King's Road in the port of Bristol on  the fifth of July but because of strong winds and the loss of an anchor, we had to take shelter in Minehead [in Somerset].  We left  Minehead on the 11th and put into Milford where we remained until the 22nd.  Then we continued on and on the [document torn] day of August we arrived (God be praised) safely, in Conception Bay, in Newfoundland, in the harbour called Cupers Cove. This is a branch of Salmon Cove. I took observations on land and found that it has a latitude is 47 degrees, 37 minutes. ...

On the trip over we had mostly southerly winds, and occasionally easterly winds but,  contrary to popular opinion, there was very little westerly wind. The wind has been the same ever since we arrived.

During the trip everyone was well except for one man who caught smallpox while we were in Bristol. He has now recovered and no one else was infected. We give great thanks to God for this.

[Arrival in Cupers Cove]

Cupers Cove Harbour is three leagues northeast of Colliers Bay.  I prefer this harbour to Colliers as a place to begin our plantation because of the good harbour, rich soil, large trees, and for many other reasons.

We arrived with 10 goats. We lost one at Minehead and another was killed during rough seas on the trip over. The rest are all well and strong except for one which got sick on the way over and did not recover. Now we have nine goats left. We also have a boar, two sow pigs, poultry, rabbits, and pigeons all of which are very well.

When we first arrived here we would occasionally see a bear that had been hanging around since the fishermen left, but we shot at it and haven't seen any sign of it for three weeks.  If we had many more goats they would live as well here as in France and be as profitable and they would be in little danger from wild beasts. The land is good for pasturing such animals without being cleared and it is also good for pigs.

When we arrived, we discovered the fishing boats had not yet left.  They are finished fishing but easterly winds are keeping them here for the moment.  We have seen few fish since our arrival – mostly mackerel and cod.  Off Cape St. Francis and Baccalieu we spotted large numbers of dogfish.  After our ship has left, we intend to fish to help with our provisions.

[Building the Settlement]

Since our arrival, we have off-loaded the ship and built shelters for the provisions and ourselves until our house is built.  However, most of our time has been taken up with getting the ship ready to sail back to England – we have loaded it with trees and spars – the bill of lading is enclosed.

The weather here is as mild as in England – probably better – otherwise, we wouldn't have had time to load the ship.  We have dug a saw-pit close to the salt water and built a timber house over it covered with pine boards. There are two men working in it.  The pine trees here make good, large boards and are easy to work with. They are better than the boards from Norway.  We now have a tree in the saw-pit that is about 10 feet around at the butt and 30 long.  We are very pleased with the climate. It is not at all like we had expected. 

[Plants and Shell Fish in Newfoundland]

Master Alexander Sanford of Lime was bound for the Islands and left a fisherman who had scurvy with us.  The surgeon says that he is recovering well and we will send him home  on the Fleming.  Scurvy grass grows near us here – I have seen and tasted it since I came here.  There is also yarrow (or nose bleed) which is good for scurvy as well as wild peas and many other herbs that are good for it.

On September 6th, Master Sanford gave me wheat that he said he found growing by his stage.  It was ripe. He said it grew from grains of wheat that fell out of the mats used under the salt.  I have sent you a sample of it.  He also told me of a brook less then two leagues south of Renews that has a shellfish that he called clams.  He said they found fine pearls in them last year that sold for 20 crowns.  Mr. Sanford said that if this year's fishery had not been good they would have looked for more. I saw the same type of shellfish that he found south of Renews in Collier's Bay two years ago.  God willing, once our house is built, I plan on looking for the clams he is talking about.

As for the mussels that grow in the harbour, I think we would have more success if we dragged for them in deep water.  I will send you some so you can see for yourself.   I have also sent you the turpentine that comes from the fir and pine trees and the frankincense from the spruce.

[Future Growth of Settlement]

I don't doubt that ships may travel here all year round. From what I understand, the most difficult time is during the spring, when the fishermen arrive. It's at that time that the drift ice moves in from the north and troubles them. Since coming here, I have heard that a Master Hutchins of Salteash was in St. John's harbour last Christmas day.

The fish of the sea, fowl of the air, hills full of woods, the many berries and herbs growing wild and the climate will all draw settlers to this place. The soil is also good, not rocky in most places, and in some places quite deep with no rocks and in other areas, deep with loose rocks scattered throughout. The only thing preventing it from becoming a flourishing country is cattle and the industry of man - both of which our own country would be nothing without. ...

Since everything cannot be done at once, I have thought about what the best things are to do over the next year. I will give you my opinion and leave the final decision to you. By farming and fishing and the trade in these things, the colony will soon be able to support itself by the fruits of the earth. Many herdsmen and tenants will be attracted here when they hear how well we are doing. By God's grace, I do not doubt but that we will do as well as if we were in England.

[Plans for Fishing and Shipping]

I think it is best that a 150 ton ship be sent here for fishing with only 30 fishermen and four splitters.  We already have eight fishermen and one splitter here and the rest of the men can serve as lands men. We shall build boats over the winter. There is a good beach here and the fish are plentiful nearby. It is worth more then £200 a year to have a good place to fish, a beach, boats and a stage for a ship that size. The company will be certain to have this with the plantation here because they will be the first one here every year and will be able to take whatever stage they need for their own use. You must be every careful that the fishermen you send are good because that is the basis of the trade here.

Many ships may be employed between Le Rochelle and here. They will bring salt and return with masts, spars and boards. They can easily make three voyages a year.  The salt can be stored here and sold to the fishing ships before they leave England. They will gladly trade fish or cod oil for it at the end of the voyage. Cod oil can also be sold to the ships that go to Spain and the Straits [of Gibraltar] but this must be agreed to before they leave England to come to Newfoundland.

If lead were sent here [to Newfoundland] in the sack ship, it would be easy to send it from here to any part of Spain or Italy as ballast under the fish. If an expert were sent here who knew how to make pitch and tar, we could send that as well and also clear the woods sooner.

When a saw mill has been built here we can sell boards to the fishing fleet to build their fishing boats. Now they have to bring most of their wood from England every year. I saw some [saw mills] in Italy and I took special notice of them. I hope that I can set one up with the workmen I have here. I sent you a description of a glass making house. As you can see, all we need to make one here is workmen.

The number of people that go home at the end of next year's fishing season can be easily, and more cheaply replaced by some of the spare men that will be here with the fishing ships. A well educated and godly minister would be a great comfort to all of us and a credit to the plantation.

[Mineral Samples from Bell Island]

Master Peter Cox of Poole, who was here this past summer, heard that I had come and had been issued a patent and he wanted to speak to me. He has taken some ore samples home with him which he found at Belle Island. He hopes that these will contain metal. I am sure that you will find out for yourself if the samples are good. When I have more time, I will look for the mines myself. I wrote Master Holworthy about how the blacksmith left our ship at Minehead. I expect another one to arrive by the next ship that comes here.

If there is not enough iron ore here or if it is not good enough, there may still be something that we can do.  Iron now costs 40 shillings more than it should because of the customs fees and other charges that are placed on it. The large ships that come here with very few men could bring iron ore from England. All the wood and other things we need to make it into iron can be had here for nothing. Once the iron has been made, it could be shipped back as ballast under the fish. Eight hundred tons of ore will make 200 tons of finished iron which will be only a small part of the cargo at a rate of 10 shillings per ton. On the trip back, we can send trees, spares and boards. This will cover the cost of the freight if we are charged the same rate as we are being charged by the Fleming.

[Next Year]

I am inclosing a list of supplies that I think should be sent here next year.

The fishermen were all getting ready to leave when we arrived and we did not have a house built. So, I decided to wait until next year to hold an assembly and let the fishermen know that we plan to settle here and that we have the authority to do so. Privately, we let people know our plans and told them that we did not mean to harm any fishermen.

Once we have experienced the winter here, I hope to report to you in more detail. In the mean time, I take my leave praying to God to give his blessing to our enterprise and keep your Worships in safety.

In Cupers Cove, the sixth of October, 1610

Your Worships to Command,
John Guy

Transcription Information

Robert Barakat –(housed at the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador)

David B.Quinn (ed) New American World; A Documentary History of North America to 1612 (5 volumes) New York: Arno Press, 1979.

Willliam Gilbert - His transcription in Early Modern English is available through the Baccalieu Trail Archaeology Website which is maintained by William Gilbert and the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation:

Journal Entries and Letters 

Written by Claudine Garland. Edited and Revised by William Gilbert.