John Wagstaffe (1633–1677) was an English writer on
witchcraft
Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...
.
Life
Wagstaffe, born in
Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London, the historic and modern financial centre of London, England, which forms part of the A40 road, A40 London to Fishguard road. It links St Martin's Le Grand with Poultry, London, Poultry. Near its eas ...
in 1633, was the son of John Wagstaffe of London. He was educated at St. Paul's School, and was Pauline exhibitioner from 1649 to 1658. He matriculated from
Oriel College, Oxford
Oriel College () is Colleges of the University of Oxford, a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title for ...
, on 22 Nov 1650, proceeded B.A. on 18 Oct 1653, and M.A. on 9 July 1656. He was incorporated at
Cambridge University
The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
in 1668. On the death of his uncle he succeeded to his estate at
Hasland
Hasland is a suburb of Chesterfield in the Borough of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, England. Hasland is located south of Spital, east of Birdholme and north of Grassmoor. Hasland ward had a population of 6,615 on the 2011 Census. Despite the ...
in
Derbyshire
Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire to the north, Nottinghamshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south-east, Staffordshire to the south a ...
. Anthony Wood says that after taking his degrees he "applied himself to the study of politics and learning". He wrote little, and injured his health by the "continued bibbing of strong and high-tasted liquors".
Wagstaffe died "in a manner distracted" at his lodgings in
Holborn
Holborn ( or ), an area in central London, covers the south-eastern part of the London Borough of Camden and a part (St Andrew Holborn (parish), St Andrew Holborn Below the Bars) of the Wards of the City of London, Ward of Farringdon Without i ...
, opposite
Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane is a one-way street that forms part of the City of London#Boundary, western boundary of the City of London. The east side of the street is entirely within the City,Guildhall Chapel. He was unmarried. Letters of administration were granted to his aunt (father's sister), Judith How, on 4 September 1677.
Writings
Wagstaffe published:
* ''Historical Reflections on the Bishop of Rome'', Oxford, 1660.
* ''The Question of Witchcraft debated'', London, 1669, 1671, 1711 (in German under the title of ''Ausgeführte Materie der Hexerey, oder die Meinung derjenigen, die glauben dass es Hexen gebe, deutlich widerlegt''). He threw doubt on the truth of the alleged instances of contracts between spirits and men and women, pronouncing them to be "ridiculously absurd". His position was assailed by
Méric Casaubon
Meric Casaubon (14 August 1599 – 14 July 1671) was an English classical scholar. He was the first to translate the ''Meditations'' of Marcus Aurelius into English. He was the son of Isaac Casaubon.
Although biographical dictionaries (includin ...
in the second part of his book ''Of Credulity and Incredulity'', 1670, and in ''The Opinion of Witchcraft vindicated'', by R. T., 1670. The attacks called forth a second and enlarged edition of Wagstaffe's book.
He also contributed a Greek poem to ''Britannia Rediviva'', Oxford, 1660.