The ''terræ filius'' (son of the soil) was a satirical orator who spoke at public ceremonies of the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

, for over a century. There was official sanction for personal attacks, but some of the speakers overstepped the line and fell into serious trouble. The custom was terminated during the 18th century. The comparable speaker at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

was called "prevaricator". The bawdy poem ''The Oxford-Act'' (1693) contains a ''terræ filius'' speech, and is attributed to Alicia D'Anvers.

Nicholas Amhurst Nicholas Amhurst (16 October 1697 – 27 April 1742) was an English poet and political writer. Life Amhurst was born at Marden, Kent. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, and at St John's College, Oxford. In 1719 he was expelled from th ...

took ''Terrae-filius, Or, The Secret History of the University of Oxford'' for the title of a series of periodical essays appearing from 1721, making up a 1726 book.

List of ''terræ filii''

*1591 Supposedly "Thomas Tomkins", although this individual cannot be traced. This is the earliest known ''terræ filius''. *1592 John Hoskins, expelled *1637 "Mr. Masters," expelled *1651

William Levinz William Levinz (25 July 1625 – 3 March 1698), doctor of medicine and Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford University, was President of St John's College, Oxford, from 1673 until 1698. Life He was the son of William Levinz of Evenley, near ...

and Thomas Careles *1655

Robert Whitehall The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

and John Glendall *c. 1656 unnamed ''terræ filius'' was forcibly arrested at the podium and taken to

Bocardo Prison The Bocardo Prison in Oxford, England existed until 1771. Its origins were medieval, and its most famous prisoners were the Protestant Oxford martyrs (Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley) in 1555. Other prisoners included a number of ...

due to offensive language *1657 Daniel Danvers *1657

Lancelot Addison The Reverend Lancelot Addison (1632 – 20 April 1703) was an English writer and Church of England clergyman. He was born at Crosby RavensworthJohn Julian: ''Dictionary of Hymnology'', 2nd edition, p. 19. London: John Murray, 1907. in Westmorlan ...

, forced to retract *1658 Thomas Pittys, expelled *1661 (one of several)

Arthur Brett Arthur Brett (d. 1677?) was an English poet. Life Brett was, according to Anthony Wood, "descended of a genteel family". Having been a scholar of Westminster, he was elected to a studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1653. He proceeded B.A. ...

*1663 John Edwards and Joseph Brooks *1664

William Cave William Cave (30 December 1637 – 4 August 1713) was an English divine and patristic scholar. Life Cave was born at Pickwell, Leicestershire, of which parish his father, John Cave was vicar. He was educated at Oakham School and St John's Co ...

and Richard Wood, "stopped in their regency" *1665-8 no ''terræ filius'' *1669 Thomas Hayes and Henry Gerard, both expelled *1670 no ''terræ filius'' *1671 John Roderham and Nicholas Hall *1673

John Shirley John Shirley (born February 10, 1953) is an American writer, primarily of fantasy, science fiction, dark street fiction, westerns, and songwriting. He has also written one historical novel, a western about Wyatt Earp, ''Wyatt in Wichita'', and ...

*1674 Charles Layfield *1675 Venables Keeling *1676 Balthazar Vigures, expelled, and

John Crofts John Crofts was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1653 and in 1656. He fought in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War. Crofts was of Nether Swell, near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. His origins are obsc ...

, chaplain of New College, who retracted after the speech so was not expelled *1681 John More, beaten with a

cudgel A club (also known as a cudgel, baton, bludgeon, truncheon, cosh, nightstick, or impact weapon) is a short staff or stick, usually made of wood, wielded as a weapon since prehistoric times. There are several examples of blunt-force trauma caused ...

following the speech *1682 Henry Boles and

Jacob Allestry Jacob Allestry (1653–1686) was an English poet. Biography Jacob Allestry, the son of James Allestry, a bookseller who lost his property in the Great Fire of London, was born in 1653. After being educated at Westminster he proceeded to Christ C ...

*1683 Michael Smith *1684 Henry Walbanke and Thomas Easton *1693 Robert Turner and Henry Aldworth. Their full speeches (in

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

) survive in the notebook of Thomas Hearne. *1703 Robert Roberts; this year

William Delaune William Delaune D.D. (14 April 1659 – 23 May 1728) was an English clergyman and academic, President of St John's College, Oxford, and chaplain to Queen Anne. Life Delaune was son of Benjamin Delaune of London, England, by Margaret, daughter ...

was attacked *1706 Theodore Brooke *1713

Bernard Gardiner Bernard Gardiner (baptised 25 September 1668 – 22 April 1726) was an academic at the University of Oxford, serving as Warden of All Souls College, Oxford, and also as Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Life Gardiner was the son of Sir Wil ...

suppressed a Whig speech, as a threat to political stability. The speech was printed, but some copies were burned. *1713-33 No ''terræ filius'' *1733 No ''terræ filius'' but a speech was printed anonymously. *1763 Final appearance of the ''terræ filius'', closely censored by the university and free of improper remarks.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Terrae Filius History of the University of Oxford Satirists