Saint Ann Line


Ann was a widow. She suffered from almost continual headaches; she was infirm and had dropsy, but she cared for her soul and had great devotion to the blessed Sacrament.

She did not believe in idle talk: on Candlemas Day 1601 pursuivants raided her house when mass was just beginning.

The priest was a Mr Page and he managed to escape because the door was strongly barred, however they took Mrs Line to prison along with  a Mrs gage who was later freed.

Ann was tried by Chief Justice Popham at the Old Bailey. He directed the jury to find her guilty of harbouring a priest. She prepared for her death by prayer.

At Tyburn, when she was just ready to die, she declared

'I am sentenced to die for harbouring a Catholic priest and so far I am from repenting for having done so, that I wish with all my soul, that where I have entertained one, I would have entertained a thousand.'

She was executed on 27 February 1601.


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