PUBLISHED SOURCES
Ashley, W.J., “The Early History of the English Woolen Industry”, Publications of the American Economic Association, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Sept. 1887) pp. 13-85.
Borm, T.J. and R. de Jongh, Biografisch Woordenboek van Tiel Deel 1, Tiel, 2003. Especially the article on Claes Vijgh by Emil Smits on pp. 98-100.
Broersen, Dr. Theo, Thedingsweert en Zijn Bewoners (Thedingsweert and its Tenants), Privately printed in an edition of 50, 2008. As complete a history of the hamlet of Thedinghsweert as can be done today. In Dutch.
Burnley, James, History of Wool and Woolcombing, London, Sampson, Low, Marlston, Searl & Livingston, 1889. A sound basic history with much annecdotal evidence of the Golden Fleece in the activities of British wool workers and their guilds.
van Doesburg, J. & P. Schut, Die hofstat tot Zoelen, daer dat hues op plach te staen - Een waarderend booronderzoek op de motte Aldenhaag (gemeente Buren, Gelderland), Amersfoort, RACM, 2007. Archaeological report on the ancient motte and bailey at Aldenhaag. Focuses on the original layout of the castle and its grounds, as well as the manner of constructing the mounds, but made little search for artifacts or site excavation.
Fairbain, James, Fairbain’s Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland. London, 1986, New Orchard Press.
Goitia, Fernando Chueca, et al. Carolus V Imperator, Madrid, Lunway, 1999. A new standard work on Charles V with numerous excellent illustrations.
Graves, Robert, The Greek Myths (Two Volumes), London, Penguin Books, 1960. Excellent collected source for Hermes and the Golden Fleece.
Graves, Robert, The Golden Fleece, New York, 1944, Grosset and Dunlap. A thoughtful, but fictional, modern attempt to retell the story of the fleece by a major classical scholar.
Grierson, Edward, King of Two Worlds: Philip II of Spain, New York, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1974. A well illustrated political biography of Philip II that covers the Lowlands very thoroughly.
Guilmartin, John F. Jr., Galleons and Galleys, London, 2002, Cassel & Co. A good modern pictorial history of the 16th century, with excellent photos of contemporary art and a thoughtful general analysis of the economic and military problems of Spain and the strengths of the Dutch as shown at sea.
Haraei, Fancisci, Annales Ducum Seu Principum Brabantiae Totiusque Belgii, Vol. III. [1560-1608], Antwerp, Officinia Plantiniana, 1623. The main contenporary history on the southern Netherlands.
King, Cynthia, “Who is That Cloaked Man? Observations on early Fifth Century B.C. Pictures of the Golden Fleece”, American Journal of Archaeology 87.3 (July 1983: 385-387).
Kuys, J., L. de Leeuw, V. Pacquay & R. van Schaïk, De Tielse Kroniek. Een geschiedenis van de Lage Landen van de Volksverhuizingen tot het midden van de vijftiende eeuw, met een vervolg over de jaren 1552-1556 [The Chronicle from Tiel - A history of the Low Countries from the Migrations up to the middle of the fifteenth century, with an addition for the years 1552-1566], Amsterdam 1983. Claes Vijgh is mentioned on pp. xxi and 179-80.
La Insigne Orden Del Toisón De Oro, Madrid, Patrimonio Nacional, 1996. The essential and standard reference on the Golden Fleece today. Has details on all pre 1700 members and all Spanish order members and much else, but only copies the Limberg-Stirum list of Austrian order members published in La Toison D’Or in 1962, although it notes some necessary corrections.
La Toison D’Or, Bruges, 1962. Charles van Renysghe de Voxvrie, preface. A most important exhibit and catalog, and the beginning of modern scholarship on the Golden Fleece.
Merkelbach, H.P.J.E. in De drie Steden, tijdschrift van het Regionaal Archief Rivierenland te Tiel nr. 25, nr. 3, 2004, pp. 51-56. Publication of the eye witness report on the burning of the castle at Thedingsweert in 1795 by English mercenaries.
Milton, Joyce and Caroline Davidson, The House of Hapsburg, New York, Boston Publishing Company, 1980. [Also identically published as One Family, Two Empires by HBJ Press, New York.] Copiously illustrated pictorial history.
Motley, John Lothrop, The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1555-84, Gutenberg e-text version,
Ortiz, Antonio Domínguez with Concha Herrero Carretero and José A. Godoy, Resplendence of the Spanish Monarchy, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992.
Pinches, Rosemary and Anthony Wood, A European Armorial, London, 1971, Heraldry Today.
Richter, Gisela, “Jason and the Golden Fleece”, American Journal of Archaeology 39 (1935). First publication of the Metropolitan Museum krater showing Jason and the fleece.
Spada, Antonio, Onore e Glorie – France, Russia and Austria, Brescia, 1983.
van Vilsteren, V.T. and A.Z. Anninga, Goud uit Georgia, Assen, 2010, Drents Museum. Museum catalog of ancient Georgian (Colchian) gold at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands that also documents and displays the Aldenhaag Fleece.
ORAL SOURCES
By Stephen Herold:
Dick van Duijn — basic story of the finding of the fleece by his brother, biographical material on Willem van Duijin and his friends, story of the cleaning of the fleece.
Dr. Theo Broersen — email discussion on evidence about Claes Vijgh, Thedinghsweert and Aldenhaag. Viewpoints on the true find spot and original owner of the fleece.
By Vincent van Vilsteren:
Dick van Duijn — further details on the finding of the fleece, contacts with Willem’s friends
Friends of Willem van Duijn — details about their walks, where they went and ate lunch and where the fleece could have come from.
Jan Kuys— historian at the University of Nijmegen and editor of the De Tielse Kronijck, on Claus Vijgh and the accuracy of De Tielse Kronijck.
H.P.J.E. Merkelbach, details on Thedingsweert and Tiel.Mrs. Mary Rijkenberg— currently lives in the manor house at Thedingsweert, questions about its history
WEB SOURCES
These are too numerous to list, and some have already vanished from the web, but we give a general list of important sources. Many are, of course, in Dutch. Genealogy lists abound on the internet, and Claes Vijgh and his family appear in many Dutch, and some other, lists, often with tidbits of information not found elsewhere. These geneaology sites must be used with care and cross checking as errors in names and dates are common.
Google searches for "Nicolaas Vijgh", "Claes Vijgh", the various van Egmonds, the places associated with the fleece, etc. Also Lycos and Wikipedia searches.
Vijgh and the Calvanists Short biography of Claes Vijgh and the story of the Spanish raid at Zoelen.
De Hoge Heerlijkheid IJzendoorn Numerous official notes of Claes Vijgh, the van Rossems and the Piecks from ancient Netherlands documents and records.
Kastelen in Nederland The Castle Soelen information page at the site on Netherland castles.
De Historie van Kasteel Soelen History of Soelen castle, heavily illustrated.
Ted’s Tokens Page 5 discusses the Golden Fleece in England and its use on tokens there.
Medieval Guilds A fine article on the eh.net online encyclopedia by Gary Richardson of the University of California, Irvine. Succinctly describes Roman guilds, their Medieval revival and Renaissance decline.
Theoi Greek Mythology A rich and useful collection of texts, art and references on Greek mythology.
Trade Guilds of the Latter Roman Empire: The Social & Economic
Conditions of the Members of the Collegia From Constantine to Theidosius
II
by Freda Utley (MA Thesis at the London School of Economics, 1925). A well researched
and well written thesis that explores the real condition and function of the
guilds at the end of the Roman Empire in the west. Essential for understanding
the guilds.
II. The Hamlets of Thedinghsweert & Zoelen-Aldenhaag
III. The van Egmonds, Claes Vijgh & The Golden Fleece
IV. The Standing Ram Fleece & Charles V
Appendix 1. The Standing Ram Fleece As Seen in the Insignie Orden Book & Other Catalogs
Appendix 2. Other Scholars Look At the Aldenhaag Fleece
Appendix 3. Greek & Roman Mythology of the Golden Fleece
3B. Classical Texts That Mention the Golden Fleece
May 2010 Meeting on the Aldenhaag Fleece — 1. The Places
May 2010 Meeting on the Aldenhaag Fleece — 2. The Fleece
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