The name of the fountain

This fountain has, not only her name, but also her existence thanks to the Christ-preacher Boniface, whom first was called 'Winfried' in the eight century of our era. He was a missionary from England, who thirteen years long tried to christianize the Frisians. It showed some success, but after leaving the people were soon descending to paganism. One of the most frantic resister of Christianity was Radboud, the Frysian King. At the age of seventy Boniface came back to Fryslan. This time he appeared to succeed until the gray man with his companions between Dokkum and Murmerwoude was slain and murdered. When he saw the danger coming he pulled his horse of the road. But the hind-foot did sink into the ground and the attackers soon got to Boniface. When they pulled the horse out from the ground a fountain was spraying water around. The murderers were most of them living in a village which later was called Murmerwoude. In the Frysian language it is called 'Moarnwald' which means murderersforrest. The bible which Boniface was having with him was cut in half by the sword of one of the attackers. After research it was clear to much amazement of the researchers that no one letter self was hurt. The bread of Boniface' company was taken as loot. But when the murderers were hungry and wanted to eat it was changed in stone. These stones are still to be seen in Dokkum, together with the skull of Boniface, despite his burial in Fulda. The stones not only have the form of bread but also the color. An old writer said he licked one of the stones and tasted bread. Above the bread they took the wine from Boniface. This wine changed to poison. The murderers drank it and went crazy, killed each other until nobody was left. The death of Boniface was revenged immediately by Heaven. Until this day the descendants of the murderers are known by a gray hair on the back of their head.

by Walling Dykstra