<P> In 1643 the Royalist forces won at Adwalton Moor, and gained control of most of Yorkshire . In the Midlands, a Parliamentary force under Sir John Gell besieged and captured the cathedral city of Lichfield, after the death of the original commander, Lord Brooke . This group subsequently joined forces with Sir John Brereton to fight the inconclusive Battle of Hopton Heath (19 March 1643), where the Royalist commander, the Earl of Northampton, was killed . Subsequent battles in the west of England at Lansdowne and at Roundway Down also went to the Royalists . Prince Rupert could then take Bristol . In the same year, Oliver Cromwell formed his troop of "Ironsides", a disciplined unit that demonstrated his military leadership ability . With their assistance, he won a victory at the Battle of Gainsborough in July . </P> <P> At this stage, from 7 to 9 August 1643, there were some popular demonstrations in London--both pro and against war . They were protesting at Westminster . A peace demonstration by London women, which turned violent, was suppressed by William Waller's regiment of horse . Some women were beaten and even killed, and many arrested . </P> <P> Following these events of August, the representative of Venice in England reported to the doge that the London government took considerable measures to stifle dissent . </P> <P> 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 and then brushed the Royalist army aside at the First Battle of Newbury (20 September 1643), in order to return triumphantly to London . Other Parliamentarian forces won the Battle of Winceby, giving them control of 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, while Parliament offered concessions to the Scots in return for aid and assistance . </P>

Who fought the civil war taking place in 1642 to 1645