Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Shute, Josias
SHUTE, JOSIAS or JOSIAH (1588–1643), archdeacon of Colchester, son of Christopher Shute [q. v.], vicar of Giggleswick, Yorkshire, was born there in 1588. After being educated at the grammar school in the village, he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1605, and M.A. 1609. He was instituted on 29 Nov. 1611, on the presentation of James I, to the rectory of St. Mary Woolnoth, Lombard Street, where his eloquent and learned preaching was much appreciated by the royalist party. He remained there for thirty-three years. Fuller says 'he was the most precious jewel shewn in Lombard Street,' then the location of goldsmiths and jewellers, as now of bankers. From about June 1632 Shute acted as chaplain to the East India Company, preached thanksgiving and other sermons for them at St. Helena, and protested against the reduction of mariners' wages (Cal. State Papers, Colonial, East Indies, and Persia, 1630-4, pp. 267, 419, 457, 468, 471, 549, 552). Shute was appointed by Charles I to the archdeaconry of Colchester on 15 April 1642, and was chosen on 14 June 1643 by the houses of parliament a member of the Westminster assembly of divines, but died on 13 June 1643, before the first sitting. He was buried in St. Mary Woolnoth on the 14th (Brooke and Hallen, Transcript of the Registers of St. Mary Woolnoth, p. 222). Fuller, quoting 'Persecutio Undecima,' 1648, 4to, a civil war tract, says he was 'molested and vext to death by the rebels, and denied a funeral sermon by Dr. Holdsworth as he wished.' One was, however, preached by Ephraim Udall [q. v.] Shute married, on 25 April 1614, at St. Mary Woolnoth, Elizabeth Glanvild (Glanville) of that parish (Registers, p. 189), but had no issue.
Shute was a skilled Hebrew scholar. His manuscripts, left in the hands of his brother, Timothy Shute of Exeter [see under Shute, Christopher], were published posthumously, viz.:
- 'Divine Cordialls delivered in Ten Sermons,' London, 1644, 4to, edited by William Reynolds.
- 'Judgement and Mercy, or the Plague of Frogges inflicted removed,' in nine sermons, to which is added his funeral sermon, London, 1645, 4to.
- 'Sarah and Hagar, xix Sermons on Genesis xvi.,' London, 1649, fol., published by Edward Sparke [q. v.] To this his portrait, engraved by William Marshall, is prefixed.
[The Pious Life and Death of Mr. Josiah Shute, who left us on the 22nd June' [1643], was published shortly after, and was followed by 'Elegincall Commemoration,' London, 1643, 4to, written to correct the errors it contained, especially in the date of Shute's death, which is differently given by every authority. See also Lloyd's Memoires, pp. 294-300; Fuller's Worthies, x. 260; Walker's Sufferings, pt. ii. p. 49; Granger's Biogr. Hist. ii. 167; Le Neve's Fasti, ed. Hardy, ii. 343; Masson's Life of Milton, ii. 616; Newcourt's Rep. Eccles. i. 92; Notes and Queries, 4th ser. iii. 219, 6th ser. x. 250, 394; Stowe MS. 76, f. 344; Lansdowne MS. 986, f. 53; information from the registrar of the University of Cambridge; Peck's Desiderata Curiosa, p. 629; Catalogue of Dr. Williams's Library.]