“Occurrents in Newfoundland”
Excerpts from Henry Crout’s Weather Diary Kept at
Cupers Cove, Newfoundland from September 1, 1612 to May 13, 1613

In this first excerpt Crout describes the trip overland to Trinity Bay.

Newfound land wher the Colonie is kept 1612.

September first the winde at weste al the daie verie faire the sune shininge all the daie untill night. This morning 8 of us went forward for Trinitie Bay markinge the way. We founde verie faire birch trees passing thorowe the woodes and 4 places of open grounde and passed 3 Fresh watter lakes with divers beavers nestes in them. Thus we went some Six milles the first daie. This night we had the winde at southeast with raine until daie.

September 2
The winde at southeast verie fowlle weather and much raine all the day the winde beinge cold. The sune not showinge her selfe all that day. [We were] forced to stay under a tree all this day and night continuing rayninge untill the morninge which by no manner [could we keep] our bread dry but [it] was all wet.

September 3
In the morninge we proceeded being the winde at north west. Aboute an houre after sun risinge we had some showers of small Raine [while] passing through much open ground with a fresh watter lake in it. After passing a wood and thickett [we] came againe into open ground wher was a verie faire river ... and a path which made showe of much deer had passed that way. From thence through other faire woodes some 3 milles and so came into a great champion countrie and much open ground which was some 3 or 4 mylles from Trinitie bay. This night we lay in a wood by a freshe watter lake wher we killed some 5 or 6 ducks for our supper. In that lake was some 4 beavers nesses. This night proved very faire the wind at west all night.

September 4
In the morninge we proceeded Farther through verie faire woodes passing faire lakes and freshe rivers. Beinge about 10 of the clock in the middest of a wood at the top of a great hill and could not see any part of the bay and doubting to find it before such time as our bread was spent, [it] being all wet, [we] resolved amongst our selves to return againe. So that night we came unto that fresh watter lake where we departed from [in] the morninge. The wind all the daie at west north and small raine but the night [was] faire.

September 5
In the morninge the winde at northeast verie faire weather all the daie untill night with faire sune shininge. That night we lodged by a freshe river, the night being verie faire, in a wood at the head of a Fresh lake which did prove afterward that we were not above 6 mylls from Trynitie Baye. but, [it] being our bread was spent, we durst not hazard [or] venture any fur[ther] but returned back again all the [way which we had traveled] forth.

September 6
In the morninge the winde at east verie faire sune shininge all the day untill night. At night we returned againe at Cupers Cove the night being very faire. All our Bread was spent the day before we came home. This eveninge master robartes shipp came from Renoose.

September 7
In the morninge the wind all at east untill night with verie faire sune shininge all the day untill night, the weather verie warme .... George Wichalls and Elles Norton killed 2 muskrattes at Salmon Cove.

September 8
In the morning the wind at weste very much winde all the day until night. The night also much wind. This day master robertes departed with his shipp to go for London.

September 9
In the morninge the winde at weste with some Raine in the after noone until it was night. This morning departed 8 of our people againe for Trinitie Bay to find it by land. The night proved very faire weather all the night.

On October 7, 1612 Crout sailed out of Cupers Cove with John Guy on a voyage of discovery into Trinity Bay. On October 19 Guy’s party was blown north to an island off Catalina while trying to enter the bay. On the afternoon of October 21 the wind changed and the colonists set sail again.

October 21
In the morninge the winde at west verie much wind and raine. In the after noon we putt from thence abowte 3 of the clocke the wind cominge in a shower of raine at north and by east. All this night we crossed the Baye of Trinitie with the wind at north east.

October 22
In the morning the wind at north east we were neer by Harts Content off the souther side with very faire weather and sune shyninge all the after noone the wind at south west. This after noone betwine 1 or 2 of the clock [we] went into Mounte Eagle Baye and there ankered. This night verie much wind and rayne all the night.

October 23th
In the morninge the wind at southwest faire sune shining all the daie untill night. The night the wind at weste verie faire weather. This daye in the morninge we went at the mouth of Mountte Eagell Baie and landed upon a fine litle Iland which [has] excellent good ground and grasse upon it and ther we gathered store of scurvy grasse. Allso ... we found that ther had ben great store of birdes had haunted.

October 24
In the morninge the wind at south east verie faire sune shininge weather untill night and calme. This morninge we departed out of Mountte Eagell Baye coastinge towards the bottom of Trinitie Baye .... Rowing all the day with our pennice and towing her with our shallop abowte 3 0r 4 of the Clocke we entered with our Barke in a sound some 4 mylles and Right off the north side before the harbours mouth [were] 3 fine Ilandes which will make the place a good harbour. This night we ankered in this sound. This night verie faire weather, the wind at west untill morning a little raine.

October 25
In the morninge the wind at south and at south west but faire sune shininge most parte of the daie, some small showers at tymes, the weather verie mylde. This daie our people did find divers things of the savages - bouckelleres, long staffes or pikes, one arrow and little bowls and sundry houses where they had bin in. Also, they had made a great path through the woodes. This night the wind at west, very much wind.

October 26
In the morninge the wind at weste very Faire sune shininge weather all the daie but very much wind. This morning we wayed our ankers and rowed forth at the mouth of the harbour [but] finding the winde contrarie, we returned backe againe and did anker in the same place from whence we parted . After our coming in, some of our people sought out the path of the savages which brought them unto a Fresh watter lake where they had sight of 2 or 3 of their fires. They returned again, advertising our governor of it. So, in the eveninge, went himself with 14 more thinking to have in trapped them in their housses. But before they came, the savages were departed and gone into an little Iland in the mydest of the Fresh watter lake. Our people had sight of a canno and 2 men which were rowinge unto the Iland but our man had never a boote to go unto them. The governor entered into their houses ashore but gave charge nothing should be touched by any of his Companie, finding and feeling in the night divers good furs and the feet of 3 deer which they had newly killed. So, the governor left all theie thinges but ... in a little brassen kettle which they had in their house left ... some biskitt, points and bracelets, taking some 2 or 3 Children’s shoes and brought [them] away and so departed. This night the wind at northeast [and] verie faire weather.

October 27
In the morninge the wind at east north east,verie close weather all daie. The night something faire but some 2 or 3 hours before daie some raine.

October 28
In the morninge the winde at east south east with some small Raine and much wind all the day. The night also very much Raine the wind still at east south east all night.

October 29
In the morninge the wind at southeast [and] very thicke Fogg until noone. In the after noone much raine the wind still southerlye. The night reasonable faire until towards the morning then it Rayned.

October 30
In the morninge the winde at southeaste but verie little but verie full of Fogg. This morning we departed from Savage Baye for so we named it because we found them there. So, coasting towardes the bottom we sent our shallop thinking to find a sound. Some league from this our boote went no Farther being thick Fogg. Our boote being at a pointe of another bay, one of our people was ashore upon a fine parcel of ground of some 12 ackers of good land and excellent good grass. In the other side William Hattton, being in the boote, had the sight of some Irone stone in the point of a rock but by no means could go ashore the see [being] so loftie ... but came away Fearinge to loose the sight of our penice. ... In the after noone very clear and faire weather. Rowing over for the north side of Trinitie at night we ankered under a point of an Ilande which is to be named by the governor and the other places which we have been at. This night the wind at north east but very full of Fogg all night.

On the morning of October 31 Guy’s party sailed from the island where they had anchored (most likely Dildo Island) northwest into Collier Bay which Guy called “Allhallows”. Over the next three days they explored the arm and also sailed around the Elbow (Tickle Harbour Point) in an attempt to land in Sandy Bay (present day Bellevue).

October 31st
In the morninge the winde at south weste very faire weather all the daie. This morning we removed anker from this Iland and coasting the baye aboute 10 of the clock rowinge along came into a Fine sound which did ly west & west north west from this Iland. [It is] some 2 leagues betwine the Iland and this place. In the after noone the governer and some 5 more went up unto the topp of very high hills thinking to discover some passage thorough some soundes into the Bay of Pleasaunce [Placentia] but we could [not] perceive any but a deep sound which went in through. This night very faire weather some of our people lying ashore and some abord.

November 1
In the morninge the wind at southeaste very much wind and raine. After 8 of the clocke this morninge we removed our anker thinking to have gone into a sound called Sandy Bay which is within the Elbow. So, being Fowll weather and rayne we returned back againe unto the place we had ankered this morning. But the governer sent our boott to see if there were any harbour but they could finde none but [there was] an excellent beache and very fine sande and earth. A very likely place and by Judgement not farr by land from thence to Pleasaunce. This night proved verie Faire the wind at southwest.

November 2
In the morninge the wind at north & be west verie Close weather with some showers of Rayne. This morninge we went with our boote and found 2 fine harbours more not about each a mille of anuder from the place we ankered. ... In these places we see divers savage housses but [it seemed that they had not] bin ther in [a] long time. The winde this night was at west and west south west. Verie much raine and much fogge after mydnight and the wind very hard allso.

On the morning of November 3 the colonists sailed out of Collier Bay and northwest into Bull Arm. Along the way they noted the location of several Beothuk camps. On November 4 Crout led a party overland along a Beothuk path from Bull Arm to present day Come-By-Chance in Placentia Bay. On November 5 John Guy led a party to the top of a hill (probably the Powder Horn) to get a better view of Placentia Bay and on November 6 the colonists meet and shared a meal with a group of Beothuk somewhere in Bull Arm.

November 3
In the morninge the wind at west south west very much wind but Clear and sune shininge weather. This morning we did remove anker from this harbour and turned into the next sound which went up north or north and be east thinking to find a passage through for Pleasaunce. But goinge up this sound we found another sound and sent our boote ashoore in one little Creeke wher they did find 9 savages housses. So the boote came unto the next sound wher we ankered and stayed all night supping ashoore. Ther we found also 3 savages housses more. This sound went in northwest. This night very myld weather.

November 4
In the morninge the wind at north west very faire sune shininge weather some parte of the daie. This morninge we removed anker and went up farther in to the other sound which went up north and north be west. We went unto the very bottome thinking sure to have found a passage through [to Placentia Bay]. So that after noone we found a canoe verie artificially made which was hauled upon the shoore. After dinner we went some 9 of us and followed a path which the savages had made which brought us unto a very faire river which goeth in Pleasaunce which is but 2 mylles overland from the place wher our Barke was. Of the other place wher we found the path to go into Pleasance we found divers places wher the savages had bin and they do carry canoes over land to Embark themselves at the other side. Ther we found a basket full of Fishermens hooks, flintt stones and a goate skynne and a lamb skin and a little brassen kettle which we brought with us and a buckler. Ther we [did] see 2 very great wollves. Also we found ther a calking iron for a ship. In our canoe we found a fishing line [and] one of our men [found] a Fisher mans cape. In this place...wher our Barke is we found in all some 8 or 9 savage houses and [a place] wher they had tanned a bears skine. Ther path over land is a great beaten path into Pleasaunce Baye. This night verie faire weather.

November 5
In the morninge the wind at northweste verie faire myld weather but no sun shyninge but close weather [with] a little froost in the morning.This morning our governer wentt a coasting at the top of a hill with some ii more of our people to discover Pleasaunce Bay but it was verie thick [fog] and close untill towards night. ... He doth Imagine ther may be a passage nearer aboute Hartes Ease which we had no time to try. This after noone a little raine but the night proved very faire but there was a little froost. This night our governer stayed Forth all the night.

November 6
In the morninge the wind at north north west with some Fogge. Aboute dinner tyme our governer and his Companie retorned agayne. So some houre after dinner we did espy a savages fire being some mylle from the place wher we made our fire. Being we discovered ther fire [we] did go all abord and advertised our governer of it how they made a Fire for a signe for us to come unto them. So we removed anker and made towardes them with our penice and shallope. Comyng near them both with our penice and shallop they began to be fearfull [and] returned againe unto ther canoes there being 2 of them and 8 persons. Seeing them to be Rowinge away we made signes with our flagg of truce ... which made them returne but first they showed a Flag of truce unto us with a wolffes skine and they made showes we should come ashoore unto them but seeing both bark and boott come made them to fear and get into ther canoes.

Then the governor sent but the boote to go ashoore and ther landed one man called Master Whittington with our flagg of truce. Then ther landed one of thers out of the canoe and so came to parlay by signes one to the other with handing and dancing togeather they laughinge much with verrie great voices. Then ther came another of ther men ashoore [and] presently ther landed another of ours. Then afterward the governer landed and some 4 more of us. The governer made them a banquet with raisons, bread and butter and beere and aquavitae which they like well. But first they gave us at our comying ashoore chaines of shells and put [them] aboute our neckes for great presentes. The governer bestowed [on] them a shirte, napkin, handkerchiefs and pointes and our flag of truce. They gave us some of ther drie venison. They were very Joyful of our flag of truce.

Also they Brought ashoore at ther first comyng certain furs some 14 in all - more they had in ther canoes - and did hange them upon stages by the beach. We thinking they did drie them but we perceived after ward it was to truck with us. Being towardes night they hasted to be gone ... making showe they would go into ther canoes and they made showe unto us to go abord our Bark which we departed instantly as they did. But they lefte all ther skins behind except a wolffe skine which they bestowed on master Whittington which was ther flag of truce. So we removed with our bark and boott up to the bottome of the sound againe. We call this sound Truce Sound because we made truce with them ther. ... The wind at northeast but some frost this night .

November 7
In the morninge the winde at northeast verie faire sune shininge. In the after noone Some snow blanckes. This daie we began to build a house upon a little Iland which is in the verie bottome of Truce Sound and in the verie trade way of the savages as they go unto Pleasaunce. This bay lieth in the neerest north north east and out south south weste. This night very faire starr light but [there was] a Froost in all the bottome of this harbour which we doubt to be kepte in if we should stay longer which made us to forsake to finish the building of our house.

November 8
In the morninge the wind at south some thing close weather but verie myld. This morninge we removed anker from this sound of truce and in going Forthe we went ashoore at the place wher we had parley with the Savages . Comyng ashoore we founde all ther skines still standing upon the poles. So the governer taking viewe of them all did take 2 beaver skines, one sabell skynne and a skine of a kind of straunge Fowell leaving For the same thinges one hachett, one knife, and 3 needles threaded. For the rest we lefte on the poles as we founde them being verie sorrow we could not staie any longer for to have spoken with them. Ther were lefte in all some 14 skines ... of Beavers the most parte. This day in the after noone we ankered in a sounde comynge into Truce Sound when we came first in which we ankered in the 4th ditto. The wind still at south this daie we had some raine and snowe blanckes. This night we had in this harbour verie Fowlle weather the wind at north west verie much winde and good store of snowe. We Feared much to be put From our anker.

February 10, 1613
In the morning the wind at west not much wind, the sune shininge all the daie verie pleasaunt and warm though a little cold but all our men did work in the woodes with great Content. In the after noone about 4 of the clock the skie verie cleare beginning to Freeze very hard. After dinner died one of our Companie called Edward Hartland a taillor and prentice for the company. This morning the little pond betwine the house and the Brue house and also the harbour was all taken over with a cream of Ice. This night the wind [was] at west north west. Little wind but Freezing hard all the night.

March 13
In the morning the wind at northeast much wind [and] very thick weather all the day until night and small rayne. This morning was a little frost [and] there came into this harbour a verie hugh great Iland of ice. This daie proved verie cold until it was night with much wind and about 4 of the clock it did blowe a verie great stormee at east snowing verie thick until night and continued so all the night snowing Continually and Freezing.

March 16
In the morning the wind at west, little wind, something cold but the sune shining verie pleasaunt. The after noone something warme which did desolve the snowe very much and a vey pleasaunt daye. This after noone William Glissen did take some 4 or 5 troutes in our brook hard by the house. This night yt did freese something hard the wind at west southwest [and ] little wind all the night.

(Middleton MS, Mi x 1/66, University of Nottingham)

This transcription is based on a transcription first published in David B. Quinn’s Newfoundland from Fishery to Colony. Northwest Passages Searches. Vol 4 of New American World: A Documentary History of North America to 1612. (New York: Arno Press and Hector Bye 1979, pp.157-178). While every attempt has been made to present this document as originally written, certain changes have been made to render it more comprehensible to present day readers. In some cases the original punctuation has been altered and the spellings modernized. The text has also been broken down into paragraphs and, where deemed necessary, a word or two has been inserted within square brackets to clarify what is being said.