Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Shute, John (fl.1562-1573)

by Ronald Bayne

SHUTE, JOHN (fl. 1562–1573), translator, who would appear to have seen some military service abroad, was author of

1. ‘Two very notable Commentaries, the one of the originall of the Turcks and Empire of the house of Ottomanno, written by Andrewe Cambini; and thother of the warres of the Turcke against George Scanderbeg, prince of Epiro, and of the great victories obteyned by the sayd George … translated oute of Italian,’ London, by Rowland Hall for Humfrey Toye, 1562, b. l.; dedicated to the ‘high Admirall,’ Sir Edward Fynes. There is a long preface by the translator on discipline and soldiery. Cambini's commentary was published in 1529. Shute says that he does not know the author of the history of Scanderbeg.

1. ‘The firste parte of the Christian Instruction, and generall Somme of the Doctrine, conteyned in the holy Scriptures. … Translated into Englishe by John Shute, according to the late Copy set forth by th'author, Maister Peter Viret,’ London, by John Day, 1565. Four of Viret's ‘Dialogues’ are translated. There is a long preface by Shute and a dedication to the Earl of Leicester, which apologises because ‘a simple soldier, better practised abrode in martiall matters than furnised at home with the cunning of the scoole,’ attempts to translate theology.
2. ‘A Christian Instruction, conteyning the Law and the Gospell. Also a Summarie of the Principall poyntes of the Christian fayth and Religion, and of the abuses and errors contrary to the same. Done in certayne Dialogues in french by M. Peter Viret, sometime minister of the word of God at Nymes in Province. Translated, London,’ by Abraham Veale, 1573. This is a continuation of No. 2. It is dedicated by ‘John Shoute, from London, 4 January,’ to Elizabeth, countess of Lincoln, and contains an epistle to the Christian reader by Shute. The statement that Shute ‘published on Beza and some other theological tracts on the Sacraments’ is probably an inaccurate reference to 2 and 3. He is to be distinguished from John Shute, architect and limner.

[Arber's Transcript, i. 178; Ames's Typogr. Antiq. ed. Dibdin, iv. 102, 361; Brit. Museum Libr. Cat.]

R. B.