The two stones S CRISPINUS and S CRISPINIANUVS from Boschstraat 89, together with IN THE WHITE FOX (re-located at Boschstraat 69) originally came from Achter het Vleeshuis 39. The combination with the fox seems a bit strange, but given the same typeface in the captions, it is not a later addition. The explanation is quite simple. The house Achter het Vleeshuis was called "het vosken" (=the little fox) and IN THE WHITE FOX is the representation of this.
The flanking saints told people that either a shoemaker lived here or that this was the house of the shoemaker's trade, because St. Crispinus and Crispinianus were the patron saints of this trade.
According to legend the two saints were brothers who went to Gaul in the 4th century to preach Christianity. They earned their living by making shoes, which they usually gave away to the poor. Angels always ensured the supply of new leather.
The two brothers were persecuted for their faith under Emperor Diocletian. Chained to a mill stone, they were thrown into the river Aisne but miraculously stayed afloat. Later on they were beheaded in Soisson. Both attributes - mill stone and sword - are depicted on the stones.
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