Terræ filius

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.

[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.