Be aware that this is taken from a work of fiction.
We have not been able to contact the
author Mr Cronin or his representative for further information
According to the book:
"the Hedleston Coat of Arms, three silver martlets on an azure sheild."
What this may mean,
Martlet (footless swallow) Symbol of the fourth son (mark of difference);
may signify one who has to subsist by virtue and merit, not inheritance.
The birds or "merlettes" are heraldic adaptations of the martin, but are shown without legs or beaks. The ancient historian Guillame commented that merlettes are "given for a difference, to younger brothers to put them in mind that in order to raise themselves they are to look to the wings of virtue and merit and not to the legs, having but little land to set their feet on."
The birds are merlettes, which are heraldic adaptations of the martin. They are set in trios to represent the Holy Trinity.
Merlettes were usually awarded by the school of heralds to knights making significant contributions in the Crusades.
Azure means the color of a cloudless sky
The blue represents knightly valor.
Unusual places we might find the Coat of Arms, family dinnerware heirlooms, Church stained glass window, in the 14th century it was the practice to establish one's church pew with one's Arms, usually ceramic.
As a side note a legal ruling in the U.S of A by the constitutional statement that 'every man has the right to bear Arms'. The Court acknowledged that the statement may equally have applied to Coat of Arms just as it could apply to firearms, given the time, mood and genre in the total search for independence by the authors of the constitution from any controlling influence by ruling monarchy in Britain. If we had a motto I would like it to be a very popular one: Esse quam videri. To be, rather than to seem.