King Edward realized that the Lancastrians were seeking to cross the River Severn into Wales. The nearest crossing point they could use was at the city of Gloucester. He sent urgent messages to the governor, Sir Richard Beauchamp, ordering him to bar the gates to Margaret and man the city's defences. When Margaret arrived on the morning of 3 May, Beauchamp refused her summons to let her army pass, and she realized that there was insufficient time to storm the city before Edward's army arrived. Instead, her army made another forced march of to Tewkesbury, attempting to reach the next bridge at Upton-upon-Severn, further on. Edward meanwhile had marched no less than , passing through Cheltenham (then little more than a village) in the late afternoon. The day was very hot, and both the Lancastrians and Edward's pursuing army were exhausted. The Lancastrians were forced to abandon some of their artillery, which was captured by Yorkist reinforcements following from Gloucester.
King Edward realized that the Lancastrians were seeking to cross the River Severn into Wales The nearest crossing point they could use was at the city of Gloucester He sent urgent messages to the governor Sir Richard Beauchamp ordering him to bar the gates to Margaret and man the city's defences When Margaret arrived on the morning of 3 May Beauchamp refused her summons to let her army pass and she realized that there was insufficient time to storm the city before Edward's army arrived Instead her army made another forced march of to Tewkesbury attempting to reach the next bridge at Upton-upon-Severn further on Edward meanwhile had marched no less than  passing through Cheltenham (then little more than a village) in the late afternoon The day was very hot and both the Lancastrians and Edward's pursuing army were exhausted The Lancastrians were forced to abandon some of their artillery which was captured by Yorkist reinforcements following from Gloucester