Chapters 16-20 Summary

Crispin peeks inside the church to see who is singing and sees a large man with a bushy red beard. The man sees Crispin too, and stops singing. He asks Crispin who he is and where he has come from. Crispin tries to lie, but the man sees through it, grabs hold of him and demands the truth. Crispin tells him everything. The big man releases hold of him but blocks his way, not allowing him to escape the church. He tells Crispin that he is his new lord now. Crispin must serve him, and if Crispin refuses, the man will drag him back to Stromford. The man tells Crispin that the punishment for theft is hanging, and that this is what will happen to Crispin if he does go back. Crispin has no choice but to agree to serve the...