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Father Andrew
A former farmer and part of the Ruffler’s gang. During Edward Tudor’s first night with the gang, he hears Yokel share the story of how his mother was burned as a witch for accidentally letting a patient die while the doctor was gone. After that, Yokel, his wife, and their starving children were forced to beg for food and money—but because begging was considered illegal, they were punished. Yokel’s wife was whipped and died. Yokel is thankful because now she can rest instead of suffering life in England. Additionally, his children starved to death. Yokel was later branded and sold into slavery. Edward hears this account and vows to change the unjust laws. When he finally reclaims his throne, Edward seeks Yokel out and helps him find a good, honest livelihood.
Yokel Quotes in The Prince and the Pauper
The The Prince and the Pauper quotes below are all either spoken by Yokel or refer to Yokel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 17
Quotes
“I am Yokel, once a farmer and prosperous, with loving wife and kids—now am I somewhat different in estate and calling; and the wife and kids are gone; mayhap they are in heaven, mayhap in—in the other place—but the kindly God be thanked, they bide no more in England! My good old blameless mother strove to earn bread by nursing the sick; one of these died, the doctors knew not how, so my mother was burnt for a witch, whilst my babes looked on and wailed. English law!—up, all, with your cups!—now altogether and with a cheer!—drink to the merciful English law that delivered her from the English hell! […] I begged, from house to house—I and the wife—bearing with us the hungry kids—but it was crime to be hungry in England—so they stripped us and lashed us through three towns. Drink ye all again to the merciful English law!—for its lash drank deep of my Mary’s blood and its blessed deliverance came quick. She lies there, in the potter’s field, safe from all harms. And the kids—well, whilst the law lashed me from town to town, they starved.”
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Yokel Quotes in The Prince and the Pauper
The The Prince and the Pauper quotes below are all either spoken by Yokel or refer to Yokel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 17
Quotes
“I am Yokel, once a farmer and prosperous, with loving wife and kids—now am I somewhat different in estate and calling; and the wife and kids are gone; mayhap they are in heaven, mayhap in—in the other place—but the kindly God be thanked, they bide no more in England! My good old blameless mother strove to earn bread by nursing the sick; one of these died, the doctors knew not how, so my mother was burnt for a witch, whilst my babes looked on and wailed. English law!—up, all, with your cups!—now altogether and with a cheer!—drink to the merciful English law that delivered her from the English hell! […] I begged, from house to house—I and the wife—bearing with us the hungry kids—but it was crime to be hungry in England—so they stripped us and lashed us through three towns. Drink ye all again to the merciful English law!—for its lash drank deep of my Mary’s blood and its blessed deliverance came quick. She lies there, in the potter’s field, safe from all harms. And the kids—well, whilst the law lashed me from town to town, they starved.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
