Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Holte, John
HOLTE, JOHN (fl. 1495), grammarian, was a native of Sussex. He graduated B.A., was elected probationer of Magdalen College, Oxford, on 27 July 1490, and on 26 July 1491 was admitted perpetual fellow. About 1494 he was appointed usher of Magdalen College School, proceeded M.A., and became famous for his teaching. He resigned the ushership in 1495. Holte was author of the first Latin grammar printed in England, entitled ‘Lac puerorum. M. holti Mylke for Chyldren,’ 4to, Wynkyn de Worde, London (1510?), and Richard Pynson, London (1520), which was honoured with two commendatory epigrams by Sir Thomas More.
One John Holt was vicar of Piddletrenthide, Dorsetshire, from 1498 until his death in August 1506 (Hutchins, Dorsetshire, 2nd edit. ii. 484). In his will (P.C.C. 10, Adeane) he does not refer to his university.
Another John Holte succeeded Thomas Bele as suffragan to Fitzjames, bishop of London (1506-22), under the title of Bishop of Lydda. He lived mostly at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He was employed to lay the first stone of Cardinal Wolsey’s college at Ipswich on 15 June 1528. He died at Bury in August 1540. In his will (P.C.C. 10, Alenger) he desired to be buried in St, Mary’s Church, Bury, ‘in our Ladys. Ile, next to vnto the hedde of John holt, gent,’ and he possessed property at Barton, near Bury. He seems to have been a native of Suffolk, and cannot, therefore, be identical with the grammarian.
[Wood’s Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), i. 14; Bloxam’s Reg. of Magd. Coll. Oxford, iii. 15-19, 43.]