Anne Line
Anne Line was an English Catholic martyr executed for sheltering priests during Queen Elizabeth I's reign. She is remembered for her unwavering faith and defiance in the face of persecution, leading to her canonization by the Catholic Church.
- Feast Day
- 27 February
- Century
- 16th century
- Country Or Region
- England
Key Facts
- ›She was born circa the early 1560s as Alice Higham.
- ›She converted to Roman Catholicism in the early 1580s, taking the name Anne.
- ›She became active in sheltering clandestine Catholic priests after her husband's death.
- ›She was arrested on February 2, 1601, during the feast of the Purification.
- ›She was tried and sentenced to death for assisting a seminary priest.
- ›She was executed by hanging at Tyburn on February 27, 1601.
Alice Higham, Alice Heigham
About Anne Line
Anne Line: English Catholic Martyr
Anne Line (c. 1563 – 27 February 1601) was an English Catholic martyr whose life and death exemplify the religious persecution faced by Catholics in England during the Elizabethan era. Active in sheltering clandestine Catholic priests, an illegal act under Queen Elizabeth I, she was ultimately condemned and executed for her faith.
Life and Historical Context
Believed to have been born as Alice Higham or Heigham, Anne was the eldest daughter of William Higham, a Puritan. She converted to the Roman Catholic Church in the early 1580s, a decision that led to her and her brother William being disinherited, and her losing her dowry. She married Roger Line in February 1583. Her husband was later banished from England for attending Mass and went to Flanders, sending her a small allowance until his death around 1594.
Following her husband's death, Anne Line became deeply involved in assisting Catholic priests. Under the guidance of Father John Gerard, she took charge of a house of refuge for hiding priests, continuing to run it for about three years while Gerard was imprisoned and later escaped. By this time, she was widely known among Catholics, prompting her to move to separate apartments to continue her work more discreetly.
Arrest and Execution
Anne Line was arrested on February 2, 1601, during the feast of the Purification of Our Blessed Lady (Candlemas). Her house was raided while Mass was being celebrated, and a large number of Catholics were present. While the priest, Father Francis Page, managed to escape into a hiding place, Anne Line was apprehended along with another gentlewoman, Margaret Gage.
Line was sent to Newgate Prison and tried at the Sessions House on Old Bailey Lane on February 26, 1601. Weakened by fever, she was carried to her trial, where she expressed no regret for having concealed a priest and wished she could have sheltered many more. The judge, Sir John Popham, sentenced her to death for assisting a seminary priest.
She was hanged on February 27, 1601, at Tyburn, immediately before two priests, Roger Filcock and Mark Barkworth. At the scaffold, she reiterated her defiance and faith, stating her willingness to have harbored a thousand priests if possible.
Veneration and Legacy
Anne Line was beatified by Pope Pius XI on December 15, 1929, and canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25, 1970, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Her feast day is observed on May 4, alongside other English Martyrs. In England, she shares a feast day on August 30 with fellow female martyrs Margaret Clitherow and Margaret Ward. Several institutions, including the St. Anne Line Catholic Junior School in Basildon and Catholic parishes in Great Dunmow and South Woodford, are named in her honor, reflecting her enduring legacy as a symbol of Catholic resistance and martyrdom in England.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Anne Line?
Anne Line was an English Catholic martyr who lived from approximately 1563 to 1601. She is recognized for her active role in sheltering Catholic priests, which was illegal at the time.
Why was Anne Line executed?
Anne Line was executed by hanging for the felony of assisting a seminary priest. She was arrested while harboring priests and celebrating Mass, and she was sentenced to death for her defiance.
When is Anne Line's feast day?
Her feast day, along with all other English Martyrs, is on May 4th. However, in Catholic dioceses in England, she shares a feast day with Margaret Clitherow and Margaret Ward on August 30th.
What is Anne Line's connection to Shakespeare?
It has been argued that Shakespeare's poem 'The Phoenix and the Turtle' may have been written to commemorate Anne and Roger Line, and that other Shakespearean works contain allusions to her life.
When was Anne Line canonized?
Anne Line was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929 and later canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25, 1970, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
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