<P> Regarding the field of the flag, there has been much debate and discussion regarding the number and order of the stripes . Historical documents and paintings show many variations from 9 to 13 stripes, with some images showing the top stripe's being red and others showing the top stripe being white . </P> <P> At the time of the American Revolution the East India Company flag was nearly identical to the Grand Union Flag . Historian Charles Fawcett argued that the East India Company Flag inspired the Stars and Stripes . </P> <P> The East India Company's original coat of arms was granted in 1600 . The arms was as follows: </P> <P> "Azure, three ships with three masts, rigged and under full sail, the sails, pennants and ensigns Argent, each charged with a cross Gules; on a chief of the second a pale quarterly Azure and Gules, on the 1st and 4th a fleur - de-lis or, on the 2nd and 3rd a leopard or, between two roses Gules seeded Or barbed Vert ." The shield had as a crest: "A sphere without a frame, bounded with the Zodiac in bend Or, between two pennants flottant Argent, each charged with a cross Gules, over the sphere the words DEUS INDICAT" (Latin: God Indicates). The supporters were two sea lions (lions with fishes' tails) and the motto was DEO DUCENTE NIL NOCET (Latin: Where God Leads, Nothing Harms). </P>

Explain the conditions that led to the establishment of the east india company