Royalist and Parliamentarian forces fought an inconclusive engagement at Hopton Heath near Stafford on 19 March 1643. The Royalist commander, the Earl of Northampton, was killed, while Parliamentarians captured several artillery pieces. Both sides claimed grounds for presenting the encounter as a success.

Northampton's death prompted Royalist commemoration of aristocratic courage and sacrifice. Conflicting reports also demonstrated how Civil War print could convert an indecisive battle into rival moral victories.