Everything about John Rut totally explained
John Rut (fl.
1512 –
1528) was an
English mariner, born in
Essex, who was chosen by
Henry VIII to command an expedition to
North America in search of the
Northwest Passage; on
10 June 1527 he set sail from
Plymouth with two ships, the
Samson and the
Mary Guilford. The voyage was set up by
Cardinal Wolsey at the wishes of
Robert Thorne, a
Bristol merchant. The
Samson was commanded by Master
Grube and the
Mary Guilford was commanded by Master John Rut.
During the sail across the
Atlantic Ocean, the ships separated during a storm, and it's assumed that the
Samson was lost. In early July the
Mary Guilford met heavy ice and turned southward; they reached the
Labrador coast near
St. Lewis Inlet, which they explored. In late July the
Mary Guilford set sail for
St. John's. They entered St. John's harbour on
3 August where they'd reported encountering eleven
Norman fishing vessels, one
Brittany fishing vessel and two from
Portugal.
It was at
St. John's,
Newfoundland on
3 August 1527 that the first known letter was sent from North America. While in St. John's, Rut had written a letter to King Henry on his findings and his planned voyage southward to seek his fellow explorer. The letter in part reads as follows;
Pleasing your Honourable Grace to heare of your servant John Rut with all his company here in good health thanks be to God.
The conclusion of the letter reads:
...the third day of August we entered into a good harbour called St. John and there we found Eleuen Saile of Normans and one Brittaine and two Portugal barks all a fishing and so we're ready to depart towards Cap de Bras that's 25 leagues as shortly as we've fished and so along the Coast until we may meete with our fellowe and so with all diligence that lyes in me toward parts to that Ilands that we're command at our departing and thus Jesu save and keepe you Honourable Grace and all your Honourable Reuer. In the Haven of St. John the third day of August written in hast 1527, by your servant John Rut to his uttermost of his power.
After leaving Newfoundland for warmer climes, the
Mary Guilford sailed along the east coast to
Florida; it's believed that this was the first English ship to have done so. Rut returned to England the following year and no other record of him remains.
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