William Lin or William Line was a 17th-century Presbyterian lawyer (called a writer) from

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. Phillimore calls him a

Writer to the Signet The Society of Writers to His Majesty's Signet is a private society of Scottish solicitors, dating back to 1594 and part of the College of Justice. Writers to the Signet originally had special privileges in relation to the drawing up of documen ...

which would make him a senior lawyer. He may have been from in or around Kirklistoun.

Legal trouble

He was indicted, early in August, 1681, before a Committee of the Privy Council on a threefold charge: 1. Attending field

conventicles A conventicle originally meant "an assembly" and was frequently used by ancient writers to mean "a church." At a semantic level, ''conventicle'' is a Latinized synonym of the Greek word for ''church'', and references Jesus' promise in Matthew 18: ...

and listening to ministers who were declared “traitors.” 2. Harbouring such ministers. 3. Corresponding with them. In proof of this last charge, it is said, that "upon one of the rebels, when taken and examined, were found particular letters addressed to him". This triple indictment was referred to his oath. Refusing to depone, Lin was fined in the sum of £500 sterling and ordained to be kept a prisoner in the Bass until the fine was paid; and, longer should the Council deem fit. The preachers which Lin and Spreul listened to are listed as: " Mr John Welsh, Mr Donald Cargile, Mr Samuel Arnot, Mr David Williamson, Mr Thomas Forrester, Mr Richard Cameron, Mr David Barclay, Mr David Home, and others." Period of incarceration uncertain. He was sent to the

Bass Rock The Bass Rock, or simply the Bass (), is an island in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. Approximately offshore, and north-east of North Berwick, it is a steep-sided volcanic plug, at its highest point, and is home ...

on the same day as John Spreul (apothecary), the covenanter with the longest known sentence on the prison island of the Forth. When he was released was uncertain.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lin, William Covenanters Scottish prisoners and detainees Covenanting Prisoners of the Bass Rock