Sceptical Publications: John Webster - 1677

Question 1

Who was he?

Answer 1

He was a doctor and a preacher.

Question 2

What did he study and where?

Answer 2

Before 1632, he studied chemistry and medicine at Gresham College.
This is where he became interested in the scientific method.

Question 3

What was his job during the Civil War?

Answer 3

He was a chaplain and surgeon for the Parliamentary army.

Question 4

What had he done by 1648?

Answer 4

He had left the Church of England to become a non-conformist.

Question 5

After the Civil War, what did he do?

Answer 5

He preached at Yorkshire churches and debated publicly about the role of universities and astrology.

Question 6

Why did he give up preaching for medicine?

Answer 6

In 1658, the Republican govt seized his books as his religion didn’t conform to that of the govt.

Question 7

When did he complete his book?

Answer 7

He completed it in 1673 but didn’t publish it until 1677.

Question 8

Who was his attitude similar to?

Answer 8

Thomas Ady.

Beliefs not founded in the Bible should be rejected.

Question 9

Why did he write this book?

Answer 9

It was written in response to people claiming that the hunts were legitimate.

• Intended to rebuff Glanvill who claimed that the Demon Drummer was genuine.
• Opposed Meric Casaubon (leading intellectual after Restoration) who defended the view that witchcraft was genuine.

Question 10

What was the central belief he espoused?

Answer 10

Witches existed with NO supernatural powers.

They did evil but without the Devil’s help.

Question 11

What case was he critical of?

Answer 11

He was critical of the Demon Drummer case and blamed Mompesson.

Question 12

What did he have to say about the Pendle Swindle?

Answer 12

He claims that Robinson was instructed to lie by his father.

Question 13

What evidence does he have for his comments on the Pendle Swindle?

Answer 13

He met with Edmund Robinson.
The first time he met him, Webster was stopped from talking to him by two men.
The second time was in public: Webster asked him and the boy was ushered away by two men.

Question 14

What was his book called?

Answer 14

‘The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft’, 1677

Question 15

He cited the case of Roland Jenks from 1577, but what actually was this?

Answer 15

Jenks went to prison in Oxford for selling Catholic books.
He allegedly uttered a curse at the trial - hundreds (incl 2 judges) died. This was most likely a typhus outbreak.
Webster blames Jenks but says it wasn’t maleficium - he claims natural poisons.
All harm done by witches can be ascribed to natural causes.

Question 16

All ____ done by witches can be ascribed to ______ _____.

Answer 16

All harm done by witches can be ascribed to natural causes.

Question 17

Was his work popular or rejected?

Answer 17

It was well received and Webster engaged in public debates through pamphlets.

Question 18

Was he respected or not?

Answer 18

He was taken seriously by many members of the Royal Society and he wrote on chemistry.

Question 19

What did he do that was reflective of the time he was writing in?

Answer 19

His methodical approach was reflective of the new scientific age.

Question 20

What gave webster credibility?

Answer 20

His thorough use of evidence, including some first hand evidence.
This set him apart from other sceptical authors.

Question 21

Why does Trevor Roper believe he had little impact?

Answer 21

The origins of his work can be found in the works of Weyer and Scot - discourse had not progressed.
There was a decline because the clergy had much less power in Protestant countries.

Question 22

What shows his significance, however?

Answer 22

1. He was taken seriously by the Royal Society. It was they who published his book instead of Glanvill’s.
2. He dismissed maleficium and diabolism - witches had no supernatural powers, and harm attributed to witches had natural causes.