Robert Thistlethwayte

Robert Thistlethwayte (baptized December 16, 1690 – c. January, 1744) was a warden of Wadham College, Oxford and clergyman in the Church of England.Fact|date=February 2007

In 1737 Thistlethwaite fled to Boulogne after being accused of making homosexual advances towards a student, William French, whose tutor John Swinton was also accused of homosexual practices. Satirical poetry was written about these events. [ cite web
last = Norton
first = Rictor
authorlink = Rictor Norton
title = The State of Rome, 1739
date = 2004-6-5
url = http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/rome.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-24 ] The following limerick possibly also refers to Thistlethwayte. [ cite web
last = Norton
first = Rictor
authorlink = Rictor Norton
title = Bawdy Limericks
date = 1998
url = http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/limerick.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-24 ]

::There once was a Warden of Wadham::Who approved of the folkways of Sodom,:::For a man might, he said,:::Have a very poor head::But be a fine Fellow, at bottom.

Allegations of homosexual behaviour, which was considered scandalous at that time, and the College's decision to take out fire insurance combined to prompt the following verse:Fact|date=February 2007

::Well did the am'rous sone of Wadham::Insure their house 'gainst future flame;::They knew their crime, the crime of Sodom,::And judg'd their punishment the same.

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