August 3

On the 3rd in 1527, John Rut, a mariner in the service of England’s Henry VIII, sent the first known letter from North America. The letter, dated at St. John's, Newfoundland, began ‘Pleasing your Honorable Grace to heare [sic] of your servant John Rut with all his company here in good health thanks be to God.’ Henry had chosen Rut to command two ships, the Samson and the Mary Guilford, to search for the mythic Northwest Passage, apparently, that sort of thing was all the rage in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Samson was presumably lost in a storm or sank due to the large amount of ice that was encountered during the crossing. Ice? In August? Rut, aboard the Mary Guilford, made it safely to St. John’s and must have been surprised to find that the place was simply teeming with ships that were busily fishing. Rut and the crew of the Mary Guilford spent some time fishing, and I assume hanging out with the guys, and then, instead of paying attention to Henry’s desire to find the Northwest Passage, Rut turned south. It makes sense, who needs cold like that in August? Well, on second thought, that wouldn’t be too bad with the weather we have been having lately.