Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Scott, John (fl.1550)
SCOTT or SCOT, JOHN (fl. 1550), printer in Scotland, has been considered by many writers as identical with the John Scott or Scot (fl. 1530) [q. v.] who printed in London. Though one or two coincidences lend a certain appearance of probability to this theory, there is now little doubt that the two men are distinct. The Scottish printer appeared in Edinburgh in 1539, when he obtained a grant of some rooms in the Cowgate, but for some time after we hear nothing of him as a printer. In 1547 he was in Dundee, for letters were issued in that year to John Scrymgeour, constable of Dundee, ordering his arrest, though for what offence is not stated. In 1552 Scot's first dated book was issued, the catechism of Archbishop Hamilton. This was printed at St. Andrews, doubtless in order that the work might be done under the personal superintendence of the archbishop. For a few years Scot worked on steadily at St. Andrews and Edinburgh; but in 1562, while printing the ‘Last Blast of the Trumpet’ by Ninian Winzet [q. v.], the Roman catholic schoolmaster of Linlithgow, a raid was made upon his office by the magistrates of Edinburgh, the book seized, and the printer dragged off to prison. His printing materials seem also to have been impounded and given two years afterwards to Thomas Bassandyne, another printer. By some means they seem to have found their way again into Scot's hands, for in 1568 he printed an edition of the works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, at the expense of Henry Charteris, an Edinburgh merchant. This was followed by another edition of the same work in 1571, the last dated book printed by Scot. Altogether twelve books are known by this printer, but there is no doubt that he produced many more which have disappeared. Their ephemeral nature and strong controversial tendency favoured their destruction.
[Edmond and Dickson's Annals of Scottish Printing, pp. 150–97.]