Terræ filius
Satirical orator at the University of Oxford
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The terræ filius (son of the soil) was a satirical orator who spoke at public ceremonies of the University of Oxford, 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.[1][2] The comparable speaker at the University of Cambridge was called "prevaricator".[3]
The bawdy poem The Oxford-Act (1693) contains a terræ filius speech, and is attributed to Alicia D'Anvers.[4] Nicholas Amhurst 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.[5]
List of terræ filii
- 1591 Supposedly "Thomas Tomkins", although this individual cannot be traced. This is the earliest known terræ filius.[6]
- 1592 John Hoskins, expelled[7]
- 1637 "Mr. Masters," expelled[8]
- 1651 William Levinz[9] and Thomas Careles[10]
- 1655 Robert Whitehall[11] and John Glendall[10]
- c. 1656 unnamed terræ filius was forcibly arrested at the podium and taken to Bocardo Prison due to offensive language[8]
- 1657 Daniel Danvers[8]
- 1657 Lancelot Addison, forced to retract[12]
- 1658 Thomas Pittys, expelled[8]
- 1661 (one of several) Arthur Brett[13]
- 1663 John Edwards and Joseph Brooks[10]
- 1664 William Cave and Richard Wood, "stopped in their regency"[8]
- 1665-8 no terræ filius[10]
- 1669 Thomas Hayes and Henry Gerard, both expelled[8]
- 1670 no terræ filius[10]
- 1671 John Roderham and Nicholas Hall[10]
- 1673 John Shirley[14]
- 1674 Charles Layfield[10]
- 1675 Venables Keeling[10]
- 1676 Balthazar Vigures, expelled,[15] and John Crofts, chaplain of New College, who retracted after the speech so was not expelled[8]
- 1681 John More, beaten with a cudgel following the speech[8]
- 1682 Henry Boles[16] and Jacob Allestry[17]
- 1683 Michael Smith [16]
- 1684 Henry Walbanke and Thomas Easton[16]
- 1693 Robert Turner and Henry Aldworth.[16] Their full speeches (in Latin) survive in the notebook of Thomas Hearne.[8]
- 1703 Robert Roberts;[18] this year William Delaune was attacked[19]
- 1706 Theodore Brooke[8]
- 1713 Bernard Gardiner suppressed a Whig speech, as a threat to political stability.[20] The speech was printed, but some copies were burned.[8]
- 1713-33 No terræ filius[8]
- 1733 No terræ filius but a speech was printed anonymously.[8]
- 1763 Final appearance of the terræ filius, closely censored by the university and free of improper remarks.[8]