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Brief Lives, Vol. 2

Chapter 34: Sir Matthew Lister (1564-1656).
By John Aubrey
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BiographiesBritish LiteratureHistory - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)

About This Book

A collection of concise biographical sketches of contemporaries and earlier figures recorded by an antiquarian observer, combining factual entries—births, offices, publications, and inscriptions—with personal anecdotes, hearsay, heraldic and parish-register notes, bibliographic references, and occasional critical judgments. Entries range from terse records to extended reminiscences, often citing documentary sources or witness statements, and reflect an informal, detail-driven approach aimed at preserving lives, reputations, and local traditions for reference and remembrance.

Sir Matthew Lister (1564-1656).

[125]Sir Matthew Lister was born at Thornton in Craven in Yorkshire. His nephew Martin Lister, M.D., R.S.S.[126], from whose mouth I have this information, tells me he was of Oriel College in Oxon; he thinkes he was a fellowe.

He built that stately house at Ampthill in Bedfordshire (now the earle of Alesbury's). He sent for the architects from Italie.

He died at Burwell neer Lowth in Lincolnshire about 1656 or 1657, aged 92 yeares.

He was physitian to queen Anne (queen of king James). See the list of the names of the physitians before the London dispensatorie; as I remember, he was then president of the Physitians' College at London.

He printed nothing that Dr. Martin Lister knowes of (Sir Matthew Lister bred him up).

[127]Mr. <Edmund> Wyld sayes Sir Matthew Lister built the house for Mary, countesse of Pembroke. He was her surveyour, and managed her estate[128]. The seat at Ampthill is now in the possession of the earl of Alesbury, whose grandfather (the earl of Elgin) bought it of the countesse of Pembroke.—That he was president of the Physitians College appeares by the dedication of the London dispensatory to him, being then president.