Arms of the Spanish Company: Azure in base a sea, with a dolphin's head appearing in the water all proper, on the sea a ship of three masts, in full sail, all or, the sail and rigging argent, on each a cross gules, in the dexter chief point the sun in splendour, in the sinister chief point an estoile of the third; on a chief of the fourth, a cross of the fifth, charged with the lion of England (as recorded in the College of Arms[1]). This version, differing slightly from the official blazon,[2] is from the mural monument to Richard Beaple (died 1643), thrice Mayor of Barnstaple, St Peter's Church, Barnstaple, DevonHeraldic achievement of Richard Beaple (d.1643), thrice Mayor of Barnstaple, detail from his monument in St Peter's Church, Barnstaple, Devon. The central escutcheon shows his family arms: Gules, a bend vair between six escallops or. The supporters and crest are those of the Spanish Company,[3] the armorials of which are shown elsewhere on his monument. Crest: On a wreath of the colours, two arms embowed issuing out of clouds all proper, holding in the hands a globe or; Supporters: Two sea horses argent, finned or
The Spanish Company was an English chartered company or corporate body established in 1530, and 1577, confirmed in 1604, and re-established in 1605 as President, Assistants and Fellowship of Merchants of England trading into Spain and Portugal,[4] whose purpose was the facilitation and control of English trade between England and Spain through the establishment of a corporate monopoly of approved merchants.
^The chief is identical, but the field (the sea) is here shown barry wavy of nine argent and azure (perhaps identical to a sea proper) and some of the charges are not visible, such as the dolphin's head
