Mr. Cornwell, My name is Nathan Hall and I am a veteran of the United States Army. I served 8.5 years, one of which was in Iraq during the invasion. I have since gone back in a different capacity no less than four times, for about another 1.5 years total. I am now thirty, and I have followed your work with relish since I was a teenager. I truly believe that you write the most extraordinary historical fiction that I have ever read, and I thank you for that. I have a confession: I have never read one of your Sharpe series books, and do not intend to…the time period just is not as interesting to me, for whatever reason. That being said, I have just (as in, two minutes ago) finished reading your “Agincourt” book and I would like to make an observation. First off: Well done, sir! You have once again captured combat in both a visceral and very real sense. I was captivated by this novel and I can assure you that my wife is none-too-pleased with my recent frequent absences to read! There was one point I would like to address, however, in support of your theory about the archers’ layout and in response to Mr. Urban’s mention of the mysterious “Hearse” formation (in addition to the fact that your supposition makes most sense). To quote a website, http://www.phantomcoaches.org/wwwboard/messages/595.html (and yes I know it is not the most reliable source but we make do, these days, with the internet): I believe this phrase, “The Old French word for harrow, a device dragged over plowed fields to break up clods. Now it is used to signify the elongated vehicle used to carry clods on their final journey”, could very nearly be described as an apt double-entendre for the combined condition of the field that day as well as the English missiling flanks, aiming inward on an advancing foe in the conditions you so excellently described. In summary, I think you found the right of it with regards to the likely position of archers, sir. Thank you for that, for such a wonderful novel, for such a plethora of wonderful writings. I wish you the best, sir, in all your future endeavors. Sincerely, Nathan Hall