The John Bargrave Collection

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Thomas Roe (1581 - 1644)

Alias Thomas Row
 Diplomat and friend of John Donne, Ben Jonson, and Thomas Coryate. Ambassador to the court of the Great Mogul in India, 1615–1619, and to Constantinople, 1621-1628. Roe was an agent for several collectors. While in Turkey, Roe acquired objects for Arundel's collection (Leith-Ross, 167). At the same time, he was also collecting for Buckingham, sometimes in competition another of Arundel's agents, Rev. William Petty, while at other times attempting to assist him (see further Leith-Ross, 165-6). Roe rather diffidently describes one of the objects he managed to procure for Arundel, a stone
taken out of the old pallace of Priam in Troy, cutt in horned shape, but because I neither can tell of what it is, nor hath it any other bewty, but only the antiquity ... I will not presume to send it you; yet I have delivered it to the same messenger, that your Lordship may see it, and throw it away (Leith-Ross, 166, quoting Roe, 16).
This object, along with two coins and possibly some coral (from the Consul), was sent via Anthony Wood, captain of the Rainbow (Roe, 16).
Roe also collected manuscripts for Archbishop William Laud, again finding himself crossed by Petty (Leith-Ross, 166).

Roe was also a benefactor of the Tradescants' collection and himself collected coins and oriental manuscripts, which he eventually donated to the Bodleian Library (Leith-Ross, 167).


 Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23943?docPos=2 Roles: Acquirer
 Relevant locations: Workplace or place of business Istanbul
Workplace or place of business India
 People linked to person: Thomas Roe was a source of object(s) for Thomas (Arundel) Howard (1585-1646)
Thomas Roe was a source of object(s) for William Laud (1573-1645)
Thomas Roe was a source of object(s) for Tradescanti (-)

William Petty (1587-1639) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Thomas Roe
Eleanor Roe (-1675) was a wife of Thomas Roe
Anthony (Captain) Wood (-fl. 1628) was a conveyor of objects from Thomas Roe