Harley, Brilliana (c. 1600–1643)
Harley, Brilliana (c. 1600–1643)
British royal who sided with the Puritans. Name variations: Lady Brilliana Harley. Born between 1598 and 1600, most sources cite 1600; died while besieged at Brampton Bryan Castle in 1643; daughter of Edward (later 1st Viscount Conway, a member of Parliament, secretary of state, and governor of the Isle of Wight); became third wife of Sir Robert Harley, in 1623.
During the English Civil Wars of the mid-17th century, the Puritan Lady Brilliana Harley was accused of aiding the enemies of King Charles I. By mid-1643, she found herself besieged at Brampton Bryan Castle in Shropshire by a Royalist army of 700. Debilitated by a long illness, possibly pregnant, and deserted by many of her servants, she held out for six weeks. Parliamentary forces came to her aid, forcing the besiegers to withdraw; a few weeks later, however, the Cavaliers returned. Lady Brilliana then died, and early in 1644 Brampton Bryan surrendered to the king's army. Brilliana's children were well-treated, but the castle was ruined. Her letters, written from 1625 to 1643, were published in 1854.