William Ballantine (also Ballentine, Bannatine, Ballantyne, Ballentyne, Ballenden, Bellenden)[1] (1616[2]/1618[3] – 1661) was a Roman Catholic priest who became the first Prefect of Scotland.
At this period the secular clergy of Scotland were in a state of disorganisation, and dissensions had arisen between them and the members of the religious orders, particularly the Jesuits.
In 1656 Ballantine visited France, and on his return, landing at Rye, Sussex, he was arrested by Oliver Cromwell's orders and taken to London, where he remained in confinement for nearly two years.
In 1660 he returned to Scotland, and he spent the brief remainder of his life in the house of the Marchioness of Huntly at Elgin, where he died on 2 September 1661, aged 45.
[4] From the writings of Jean Suffren [Wikidata][5] he composed a treatise On Preparation for Death, of which a second edition was published at Douay in 1716.