Book Report Crispin: Cross of Lead

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is the book I chose for my book report. The author of this story is AVI.
I chose this novel because of its intricate detail of Crispins feelings and thoughts. The way this book
starts out with a tragedy, pulling in your attention, is definitely the smartest move by far. His adventures
with Bear are light hearted and witty. Throughout the novel there is mystery and question of Why is he
really a wolfs head?, What is this brotherhood of Bears? This book is definitely one to put on your
Reading List.

The setting of the story takes place in England, in the time of A.D., 1377. The main character,
Crispin, is 13 and lives in Stromford. His mother, Asta, shunned from the village for a reason Crispin did
not know, was frail, quiet, and could not read or write. She died of natural causes at the very beginning
of the book. Father Quinel, the priest of Stromford, led Crispin away from all early belief of what he
thought about his mother. He was a caring soul who only saw the best in Crispin. Bear, a large red
headed man took Crispin as his servant and cared for him to make sure he got the liberty he was looking
for. John Aycliffe was manor to the Stromford village; he pronounced Crispin a wolfs head and accused
him of thievery when there was none.

The major conflict is that Crispin was proclaimed a wolfs head for thievery of the manor house
and murder of Father Quinel. At a village north of here, Im not sure which, a boy went mad. After
robbing the manor house, he killed a priest.There was a twenty shilling reward for anyone who found
the boy and turned him in, dead or alive. The conflict, however, was that Crispin did nothing of the sort.
Before he was proclaimed a wolfs head Crispin saw a meeting in the woods between John Aycliffe and
du Brey. He overheard a secret conversation between the two about something that was a danger to us
all written on parchment. By the bowels of Christ, I heard him exclaim even as he made the sign of
the cross over his chest. When will it happen? If God will, it will come soon, du Brey said. And am I
to act immediately? Aycliffe asked the man. Are you not her kin? du Brey said. Do you not see the
consequences if you dont? A great danger to us all. Crispin was caught observing and was chased
through the woods until hidden and John Aycliffe gave up for the night. The next day he saw Aycliffe
gathering a small group of men with glaives to search for him through the woods. That night he went to
the church to talk to Father Quinel. pg. 37. He took a deep breath and then said, Did she tell you
anything about your father? Once again the priest took me by surprise. My father? Only that he died
before I was born. In the Great Mortality, I reminded him. But what has that to do with my name? Or
any of this? I said. pg.39 When you come tomorrow night Ill tell you about you father. pg. 38
Theres something about my mother that you are keeping from me, is there not? pg. 40 I took his
hand, kissed it, then started off, only to have him draw me back again. Can you read? No more than
my mother. But she could. Father, youre greatly mistaken. She could write too. I shook my head
in puzzlement. These things you say: a name. Reading. Writing. My father Why would my mother
keep such things from me?
 In the rising action, Crispin comes across Bear in the woods, Bear proclaims him his servant and
to follow him on his travels. Bear must go to Great Wexley to meet with his brotherhood. pg. 139.
Crispin, I told you, I promised this brotherhood that in my travels Id survey the kingdom. That I would
bring them the judgment of my observations. Once in Great Wexley they had to walk to the Green
Mans Inn where Bear had an old friend as the owner. Great Wexley was full of people; traders, beggars,
workers, and royalty. pg. 167. No, it was more like a dense forest, not of trees, but people. For we could
not walk straight, but had to weave our way along, constantly bumping, banging into each other. pg.170.
Indeed, there were so many objects to look at that if I had had ten eyes I could not have seen them all.
When at the Green Mans Inn Bear was not hesitant but instead barged in with a boisterous greeting.
pg. 171. Bear boldly pushed through the doorway. Though I followed on his heels, I was more than a
little hesitant, knowing his business- as he had said himself-was dangerous. Bear and a woman named
Widow Daventry were to speak about private matters, and Bears brotherhood. pg. 177. If youll be so
good as to fetch me the key to my room in the solar- the special one, Bear added, Ill settle the boy.
Then we can speak. The special room was on the top floor of the Green Mans Inn and had a secret
hideaway in the wall for danger. pg. 179. Under the pressure of his hands, a slab of wood popped out
from the wall. Its a hiding place. It will hold you, and me too, for that matter, if theres need. Will
there be a need? By all of Heavens sacred saints, I pray not. Bear told Crispin to stay in the room
until he returns from his meeting with Widow Daventry. He left a dagger for Crispin, for defense only.
pg. 181. Seeing no one about, I made up my mind to wander the town for a short time. My intent was
that I would return before Bear even noticed I left. I was just about to leave when I went to the table
and plucked up Bears sheathed dagger and hid it underneath my tunic. Once out, Crispin headed to the
Great Square. In the square was a great church at which Crispin marveled at. He eventually went inside.

The climax of the story begins in the church. While Crispin was kneeling and praying in the great
church of the town square he noticed someone in the far side of the room. pg. 191. As he turned, the
hairs on the back of my neck began to prickle. In truth, I could hardly believe what I was seeing. It was
none other than John Aycliffe, the steward of Stromford. John Aycliffe quickly realized who Crispin was
and sent his men after him. Crispin ran into the city, his size hiding him well. The men chased him down
alleyways and back roads for hours. Eventually Crispin lost them. Late that night after the doors had
closed; a large figure emerged from the back of an alley. pg. 202. Only when the voice called out again,
even angrier, Crispin, you stunted son of a scoundrel! did I realized it was Bear. After Bear and Crispin
united, they headed back to Green Mans Inn. Once there, Bear had a late night meeting with a man
named John Ball and his colleges, about the brotherhood. Curiosity getting the better of him, Crispin
crept down the stairs to listen to the meeting. pg. 210. Now, listen to me John Ball, Bear said. Its not
for me to tell you how to act. But if we are to talk of Furnivals heirs, in my travels Ive discovered
something of great importance. He spoke so low that his words became indistinct. Bear was engaged in
a rebellion of some sort I could not doubt. In Stromford mere talk of such things was considered a
hanging offense. It seemed, moreover, that he was not just a juggler, but some kind of spy. The next
morning Crispin woke up before Bear. He decided to sit on the stairs outside of their room, overlooking
the front entrance and stand on guard. While on the stairs he saw a one-eyed man enter the Green
Mans Inn but then, just as quickly as he entered, he left. Crispin recognized the man to be one who
eyed him suspiciously back at the previous village. Crispin wondered why the man was in Great Wexly,
and he couldnt help but think the one eyed man was looking for him. That afternoon Bear was to have
his last meeting with the brotherhood. Once Bear left, Crispin watched him leave. When Crispin did so,
he saw the one eyed man and a royal guard walk onto the street. The one eyed man pointed at the
direction Bear was heading. Crispin, taking the only chance he had, ran out the back door to follow Bear.
After following him for quite some time, Bear went into an old abandoned building near an alleyway.
Crispin decided to keep watch and then alert Bear if there was any trouble. After a few minutes Crispin
saw some royal guards heading down the alleyway. He decided to warn the brotherhood about the
guards. After he warned them they all ran out the back way and onto the crowded street. Crispin and
the rest of the brotherhood were able to make it out except for Bear, he was captured. Crispin followed
the guards but stayed out of sight. He saw them take Bear into a large building opposite the church.
Crispin ran back to Green Mans Inn and went and hid in the secret hideaway in the wall, along with
Bears belongings. About an hour later he heard chaos in the main room of the Inn. After the noise
stopped he crawled out of the hideaway and went downstairs. The royal guards along with John Ayciffe
had searched through the Inn looking for him, while doing so they managed to destroy everything in
sight. Crispin asked Widow Daventry why they were looking for him so intently, she answered. pg. 245.
Youre Lord Furnivals son. pg. 247. Your mother was the youngest daughter of Lord Douglas. Lord
Furnival became infatuated with her. Since Lord Furnival is dead you are the next heir, but John Aycliffe
wants to stay king. He proclaimed you a wolfs head so that you would be killed. Crispin realized that
his mother, Father Quinel, and soon to be Bear had all died because of him. He was going to save Bear
even if it killed him. That afternoon Widow Daventry sent a man to take Crispin to the wall and escape
after midnight. Crispin payed the man to show him where the building of The White Stag was (that
was where John Ball said he was to have his next meeting). That night he set off to The White Stag. Once
there he told the brotherhood that Bear had been captured. One of the men guided Crispin to the town
square, then left. Crispin was going to have to save Bear alone.

Crispin headed for the far side of the palace right when the early morning church bells rang.
Crispin was planning to climb the side of the building and enter through the back balcony. Once he was
inside he found a room full of weapons, he took a dagger and hid it under his tunic. Crispin roamed
throughout the rooms. He came upon a room that was similar to a church. pg. 270 and 271. Then I
realized on the altar, a single image had been placed. It had been set to the other side of the candles,
opposite the relic boxes. Here, within a jewel studded frame, Our Glorious Lady in Her flowing robes of
blue was revealed. Kneeling on the ground before Her was a knight in full armor, hands clasped in
prayer, his face uplifted toward the Virgin. To my utter amazement, I recognized the face of the knight.
It was my own, the very one Id looked upon in the stream when Bear had made me cut my hair and
wash my face. But now- as sure as I knew anything-I realized I was looking upon the face of my father.
Crispin knelt down and prayed, he was absorbed in his thoughts when a voice called to him. He got up
and turned around, it was John Aycliffe. Crispin, threatened him with who he truly was, that he was Lord
Funivals son, that he was the heir to the throne. That all Crispin wanted was Bear back and he would be
on his way. Crispin made a deal with John Aycliffe, saying that if Aycliffe gave Bear back to Crispin and
let them go, that Crispin would give John Aycliffe the cross of lead that had proof that he was, in fact,
the son of Funival. Crispin eventually persuaded him. Aycliffe took him to the dungeon to get Bear. Once
he got Bear they headed for the city gates with John Aycliffe. Even though John Aycliffe swore a sacred
oath to let them through the gates, he announced that anyone who killed him would be rewarded with
50 pounds. Soldiers formed a semi circle around them. Bear and Crispin were in a heated fight between
the soldiers. In the middle of the fight, John Aycliffe decides, despite his oath, to try to kill him.
Accidently, one of the soldiers stabbed John Aycliffe in the heart, he died instantly. pg. 295. I ran where
the steward lay. From around my neck, I removed the cross of lead and laid it on the stewards bloody
chest. Bear and Crispin walked out of the city, finally completely free. pg. 297. I was unfettered, alive to
an earth I hardly knew but was eager to explore. Whats more, I knew that feeling to be newfound soul,
a soul that lived in freedom. And my name- I knew with all my heart-was Crispin.