《资治通鉴·梁纪·梁纪二十》
他手下有一万人马，大多是长江、淮河上盗贼出身的人。王琳跟随王僧辩去平定侯景，与杜龛并列，功居第一。
麾下万人，多江、淮群盗，从王僧辩平侯景，与杜龛功居第一。
Under his command there were 10,000 horsemen, most of whom were originally bandit from the lower reaches of the Yangzi and Huai Rivers. Wang Lin accompanied Wang Sengbian to quell the rebellion of Hou Jing, and together with Du Kan, he took first place in terms of merit.