Didachus Sanchez

In the north transept of Westminster Abbey is a worn grey marble stone, now without inscription, which covers the remains of Spanish soldier Didachus Sanchez. William Camden, in his guide to the Abbey published in 1600, records the following inscription (translated into English):

Didachus Sanchez de Riba, Spaniard from Neira, scion of an equestrian family of Galicia. Departed this life 1557 16 Kalends of June in the reign of Philip and Mary

He was probably a member of the Court of Mary I and her husband King Philip of Spain. The coat of arms on the stone was given as "On a cross flory, five roundels" in a guidebook to the Abbey published in 1722.