Editing English Civil War (section)

=== 1643 battles ===
{{Main|First English Civil War, 1643}}
In 1643, Royalist forces won at [[Battle of Adwalton Moor|Adwalton Moor]], gaining control of most of [[Yorkshire]].{{Sfn|Wedgwood|1970|p=209}} In the Midlands, a Parliamentary force under [[Sir John Gell, 1st Baronet|John Gell]] besieged and captured the cathedral city of [[Lichfield]], after the death of the original commander, [[Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke|Lord Brooke]].{{Sfn|Wanklyn|Jones|2005|p=74}} This group then joined forces with [[Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet|William Brereton]] at the inconclusive [[Battle of Hopton Heath]] (19 March), where the Royalist commander, the [[Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton|Earl of Northampton]], was killed.{{Sfn|Wanklyn|Jones|2005|p=74}} [[John Hampden]] died after being wounded in the [[Battle of Chalgrove Field]] (18 June 1643).<ref name="Adair 1976"/> Subsequent battles in the west of England at [[Battle of Lansdowne|Lansdowne]] and [[Battle of Roundway Down|Roundway Down]] also went to the Royalists.{{Sfn|Wanklyn|Jones|2005|p=103}} Prince Rupert could then take [[Bristol]]. In the same year, however, Cromwell formed his troop of "[[Ironside (cavalry)|Ironsides]]", a disciplined unit that demonstrated his military leadership ability. With their assistance he won a victory at the [[Battle of Gainsborough]] in July.{{Sfn|Young|Holmes|1974|p=151}}

[[File:Alexleslie.jpg|thumb|[[Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven]], Lord General of the Covenanter Army and one of the victors of Marston Moor]]
At this stage, from 7 to 9 August, there were some popular demonstrations in London – both for and against war. They were protesting at Westminster. A peace demonstration by London women, which turned violent, was suppressed; the women were beaten and fired upon with live ammunition, leaving several dead. Many were arrested and incarcerated in [[Bridewell]] and other prisons.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gentles |first=I. J. |date=12 July 2007 |title=Parliamentary Politics and the Politics of the Street: The London Peace Campaigns of 1642-3 |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/217695 |journal=Parliamentary History |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=139–159 |doi=10.1353/pah.2007.0017 |issn=1750-0206 |s2cid=201772247 |access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> After these August events, the [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] ambassador in England reported to the [[Doge of Venice|doge]] that the London government took considerable measures to stifle dissent.{{Sfn|Norton|2011|loc=p.~93}}

In general, the early part of the war went well for the Royalists. The turning point came in the late summer and early autumn of 1643, when the Earl of Essex's army forced the king to raise the [[Siege of Gloucester]]{{Sfn|Wedgwood|1970|p=232}} and then brushed the Royalists aside at the [[First Battle of Newbury]] (20 September),{{Sfn|Wedgwood|1970|p=238}} to return triumphantly to London. Parliamentarian forces led by the Earl of Manchester besieged the port of [[King's Lynn]], Norfolk, which under [[Hamon L'Estrange]] held out until September.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yaxley |first=Susan |title=The Siege of King's Lynn 1643 |date=1993 |publisher=Larks Press}}</ref> Other forces won the [[Battle of Winceby]],{{Sfn|Wedgwood|1970|p=248}} giving them control of [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]]. Political manoeuvring to gain an advantage in numbers led Charles to negotiate a ceasefire in Ireland, freeing up English troops to fight on the Royalist side in England,{{Sfn|Wedgwood|1970|pp=298–299}} while Parliament offered concessions to the Scots in return for aid and assistance.