in London after his victory at Barnet, and on the 19th of April
left for Windsor, ordering all his forces to join him there. The
Lancastrians had endeavoured to puzzle him as to their intended
movements by sending parties out in various directions; but as
soon as he had gathered a force, numerically small, but composed
of veteran soldiers, he hurried west, determined to bring on a
battle at the earliest opportunity. The queen's advisers determined
to move first to Wells, as from that point they could either go
north or march upon London. Edward entered Abingdon on the 27th,
and then, finding the Lancastrians still at Wells, marched to the
northwest, by which means he hoped to intercept them if they moved
north, while he would be able to fall back and bar their road to
London if they advanced in that direction. He therefore moved to
Cirencester, and waited there for news until he learned that they
had visited Bristol and there obtained reinforcements of men and
supplies of money and cannon, and had then started on the high
road to Gloucester.

He at once sent off messengers to the son of Lord Beauchamp, who
held the Castle of Gloucester for him, assuring him that he was
following at full speed, and would come to his aid forthwith. The
messengers arrived in time, and when the queen, after a long march,
arrived before Gloucester, she found the gates shut in her face.
The governor had taken steps to prevent her numerous adherents in
the town from rising on her behalf, and, manning the walls, refused
to surrender. Knowing that Edward was coming up rapidly, it was
evident that there was no time to spare in an attempt to take the
town, and the queen's army therefore pressed on, without waiting,
to Tewkesbury. Once across the river they would speedily be joined
by the Earl of Pembroke, and Edward would be forced to fall back