Editing Battle of Tewkesbury (section)

===Lancastrian positions===
[[File:Tewkesbury abbey.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Tewkesbury Abbey]] in [[Gloucestershire]]]]
As day broke on 4 May, the Lancastrians took up a defensive position a mile south of the town of Tewkesbury. To their rear were the [[River Avon (Warwickshire)|River Avon]] and the Severn. [[Tewkesbury Abbey]] was just behind the Lancastrian centre. A farmhouse then known as Gobes Hall marked the centre of the Lancastrian position; nearby was "Margaret's camp", earthworks of uncertain age. Queen Margaret is said to have spent the night at Gobes Hall, before hastily taking refuge on the day of battle in a religious house some distance from the battlefield.<ref name="Arrivall5">{{Cite web |title=Part 5 of the ''Arrivall'' |url=http://www.r3.org/bookcase/arrival5.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709204052/http://www.r3.org/bookcase/arrival5.html |archive-date=9 July 2010 |access-date=30 April 2010}} {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709204052/http://www.r3.org/bookcase/arrival5.html |date=9 July 2010 }}</ref> The main strength of the Lancastrians' position was provided by the ground in front, which was broken up by hedges, woods, embankments, and "evil lanes". This was especially true on their right.

The Lancastrian army numbered approximately 6,000,<ref name="Warner96">Warner, p. 96</ref> likely outnumbering the Yorkists by only a few hundred.{{Sfn|Gravett|2003|p=28}}{{Sfn|Goodchild|2005|p=114}} As was customary at the time, it was organised into three "battles". The right battle was commanded by the Duke of Somerset. A stream, the Colnbrook, flowed through his position, making some of the ground difficult to traverse. The Lancastrian centre was commanded by [[John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock|Lord Wenlock]]. Unlike the other principal Lancastrian commanders, Wenlock had deserted the Lancastrian cause after the First Battle of Saint Albans, only to revert to the Lancastrians when he was deprived of the [[Lieutenancy of Calais]]. Prince Edward was present with the centre. At 17 Prince Edward was no stranger to battlefields, having been given by his mother the task of condemning to death Yorkist prisoners taken at the [[Second Battle of St Albans]], but he lacked experience of actual command. The left battle was commanded by the [[John Courtenay, 15th Earl of Devon|Earl of Devon]], another devoted Lancastrian. His battle, and part of the centre, occupied a low ridge known locally as the "Gastons".<ref>{{Cite web |year=1995 |title=English Heritage Battlefield Report: Tewkesbury 1471 |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/tewkesbury.pdf?1253781010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824101110/https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/tewkesbury.pdf?1253781010&1253781010 |archive-date=24 August 2020 |access-date=2010-04-24 |publisher=[[English Heritage]] |pages=2–3}}</ref> A small river, the [[River Swilgate|Swilgate]], protected Devon's left flank, before curving behind the Lancastrian position to join the Avon.