Experience

Newfoundland's Oldest Document Describes Life in Cupids

From the files of The Gazette November 04, 1993.

The oldest Newfoundland document in the archives is the John Guy News-Sheet. In England, in the days before newspapers were common, the news was often handwritten on sheets of paper and pinned to the wall or door of some public building where the passers-by could read it. One such news report dated 29 January 1611 told of the appointment of an archbishop to the privy council, a visit to London by the teenage son of the Langrave of Hessens, the tragedy surrounding the selection of a new mayor at Norwich, the health of Lord La Ware and a decision to colonize Bermuda. Over one-third of the news-sheet is occupied by a report of "Mr. Guye of Bristow" and the colony he had established in the new world the previous year. "Mr. Guye of Bristow" was John Guy and the colony was in Newfoundland at the site of present-day Cupids, Conception Bay.

The news of Guy's colony was good news: he had built a "convenyent house", increased the numbers of livestock ("Ducks, Geese, Henns, Conneyes, Goats, Swyne and Kyne") he had taken with him, found plenty of wild animals that had been killed for food or skins, and he and his band of colonists "have Healthfully endured the sharpest could [cold]". He planned to return to England at the next Michaelmas and gather persons to establish a second colony; he was sure that all those who partook in this venture would find it "very lykelye to be profitable." Guy's initial enthusiasm did not last, however; by 1615 he was no longer involved with its operation and sometime in the 1620s the colony is believed to have been abandoned.

How did this news-sheet from London dated 1611 end up at Memorial University? That story dates back to 1933 when Nimshi Crewe, a St. John's-based public accountant and avid collector of Newfoundlandiana, learned that the item was being offered for sale by the London bookseller Francis Edwards Ltd for £20. In 1933 the British pound had a value of $4.50+ in Newfoundland currency. In order to purchase the document, Crewe established a public campaign to raise the necessary funds with the intention of presenting it to Memorial University College. Within days he had raised the money; the subscription list read like a who's who of St. John's educators, lawyers and businessmen, including Vincent Burke, R. K. Kennedy, I. J. Samson, Dr. William Blackall, Campbell MacPherson, J. G. Higgins, Leslie R. Curtis, Gerald S. Doyle, Calvert Pratt and Peter O'Mara. The funds, which eventually totalled $96.00, were deposited in a special account in the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. From that account, on May 5, Crewe arranged for a money order for £20 ($90.92 + .18 for the stamp = $91.10) to be drawn in favour of Francis Edwards Ltd. (The remaining $4.90 was refunded to the last three subscribers.) On May 22, 1933 the news-sheet, with a specially-bound, red-leather case, was officially presented by Crewe to the Trustees of Memorial University College as a gift to the College Library.

Original Text

29 January 1611

Last Sondaye the Lord Archbyshop was sworn a pryvye Consellor at Greenewych.

Last Sondaye heere arrived the Landgrave of Hessens eldest Sonne of 17 years age attended with 26 persons, and is to get in a Duch Ghest house in Lombard street. His chief gentleman and I had some conference, wherein he glanced at an entent of a mach with the Lady Elizabeth, "marry" he sayd that his Lord's comeing was to see his Kingdom and to salute the (?bride) and princess.

The last week at Norwych upon a Soleme show daye in choosing their (?mayor), through a great crowd wch overthrew a scaffold there were 32 people slayne and many hurt som were verye accompt.

Last Tewsdaye at a Virgynya Court the Lord La Warre in person made his apollogye to the whole assemblye, saying allso that so soon as he could recover health he would be as willing to return to virgynya as any man.

The State & hope of the Bermudas was there fully dyscust and concluded to send a colony thither, the place so opulent, fertile and pleasant that all men are now willing to go thither.

Mr. Guye of Bristow who the last yeare very discretely, honestly and providentlye with a shipp and 30 honest persons well accomodated with all necessaryes as well as quick creatures as other wayes, viz: Ducks, Geese, Henns, Conneyes, Goats, Swyne, and Kyne, according to the terms of his Letters pattent went to the Newfoundland, where he very orderly hath seated hymself, buylded a convenyent house, increased of all sorts of his creatures, kyld many sorts of wyld beasts as Deere, Wolves, Foxes, and black foxes some of the skynns and other things he hath sent over for Testymony, and hath wrytten unto the rest of the adventurers his good estate, his farther dyscovery of the Countrey even in the winter season, when his people have healthfully endured the sharpest could, and he hath all things yet for one yeares sustenance - The next Michaellmas he will com over in pson and prepare for further plantacon in that Contynent, whereunto all men are very forward to put in theyre moneyes, by reason this plantacon is very honest peacefull and hopefull, and very lykelye to be profytable.

The Cytyzens of London are exceding wearye of theyre Iryshe plantacon.

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Modernized Version

29 January 1611

Last Sunday the Lord Archbishop was sworn in as a privy counsellor at Greenwich.

Last Sunday the Landgrave of Hessen's eldest son of 17 years of age arrived here, attended with 26 persons, and he is to stay in a Dutch guest house in Lombard Street. His chief gentleman and I had some discussions, where he hinted at an intent of a match with the Lady Elizabeth, "marry" he said that his Lord's coming was to see his kingdom and to salute the (bride?) and princess.

The last week at Norwich upon a solemn show day in choosing their (mayor?), because of a great crowd which overthrew a scaffold, 32 people were slain and many hurt, some of whom were very respectable.

Last Tuesday at a Virginia Court, the Lord La Warre in person made his apology to the whole assembly, saying also that as soon as he could recover his health he would be as willing to return to Virginia as any man.

The state and hope of the Bermudas was fully discussed there and it was concluded to send a colony there, the place so opulent, fertile and pleasant that all men are now willing to go there.

Mr. Guy of Bristol who last year very discretely, honestly and providentially with a ship and 30 honest persons, well provisioned with all necessities as well as live animals as other ways, viz.: ducks, geese, hens, rabbits, goats, swine, and cows, according to the terms of his letters patent went to Newfoundland, where he very orderly has settled, building a convenient house, increased the number of all sorts of his livestock, [and] killed many sorts of wild beasts such as deer, wolves, foxes, and black foxes. Some of the skins and other things he has sent over for testimony, and has written to the rest of the adventurers of his good estate, [and] his further discovery of the country even in the winter season, while his people have healthfully endured the sharpest cold, and he has all things yet for one year's sustenance. The next Michaelmas [29 September] he will come over in person and prepare for further plantation in that continent, with the result that all men are very eager to invest their money, by reason that this plantation is very honest, peaceful and hopeful, and very likely to be profitable.

The Citizens of London are exceedingly weary of their Irish plantation.