Background
Wagstaffe, born in Cheapside in 1633, was the son of John Wagstaffe of London.
Wagstaffe, born in Cheapside in 1633, was the son of John Wagstaffe of London.
He was educated at Saint Paul"s School, and was Pauline exhibitioner from 1649 to 1658.
He matriculated from Oriel College, Oxford, on 22 November 1650, proceeded Bachelor of Arts on 18 October 1653, and Master of Arts on 9 July 1656. He was incorporated at Cambridge University in 1668. 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, opposite Chancery Lane, on 2 September 1677, and was buried in Guildhall Chapel.