Matthew Gough

Also known as: Mathew Gough / sir Matthew Gough · Family: England · Role: soldier · First appears: Henry VI 2

Around 1425, at Masconnois, Matthew Gough fought the French captains and pursued Bastard de la Baulme to his castle, capturing him after a long conflict: “Matthew Gough chasing him euen to his castell gate, and there tooke him”. Around 1426, Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick appointed him captain of Chateau de Loire, and around 1427 he succeeded Gilbert Halsall as captain elsewhere. That year, John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury sent him as a spy before the assault on Mans; Gough entered the castle secretly, learned that the French were careless in their watch, and reported back to John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury.

In 1431, while besieging Saint Severine with Robert Willoughby, Lord Willoughby, Gough was captured after the English were put to flight, as was Ambrose de Loré on the opposing side. Around 1435, he was captured again at Pont Meulan after his horse foundered. In 1450, he escaped the defeat at Formignie with Robert Vere, later surrendered Lisieux on terms allowing his men to depart for Cherbourg, and was killed at London Bridge during Jack Cade’s rebellion. He was remembered as “a man of great wit and much experience in feats of chiualrie” who had spent his time in service to Henry VI and his father.