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As early as August 5th Gloucester set up a Defence Committee- even though there was then no war! The city's gates were locked overnight and stored gunpowder, found to be damp, was dried by trusted men. Most significant was the purchase of three cannon. Sir Ralph Dutton, the King's agent came with a recruiting party, and had to flee for their lives by swimming the river. Gloucester's position on the lowest bridging point of the Severn between royalist Wales and the south west, made it strategically important- parliament provided money and arms for its defence. |
