After reading most of the Sharpe books I came across the HERETIC book from the GRAIL QUEST series, . Myself and a colleague, both psychologists, have delved deeply into the myth and phenomenon of the story behind the double digit signal that many believe to stem from the period concerned in the series.  We have spent considerable time and effort reading the archival materials in both England and France and can find no materials concerning the purported origin that it came about during the war period between the two countries.  As such, we have nearly completed a document for presentation to a psychological association concerned with historically incorrect data, and for publication at a later date.  In the HERETIC book, mention is made on several separate occasions of this punishment (p. 17, p. 172, p. 331, p. 367 but I do not know if it is contained in others of the series.)  If you have any available first hand knowledge and information, from manuscripts,paintings, tapestries, etc., could you avail us with this knowledge.  If that is possible, we can withhold our presentation in order to conduct further research     and, if necessary, re-evaluate and rewrite our material.  Although we found no evidence supporting this behaviour, by the French, allusion is mentioned that sometimes a lord of a manor would perform this act to poachers killing his deer by the use of the bow and arrow.  However, that also may be a myth which needs to be destroyed as is the one concerning a recovered “lost” bird of prey being allowed to tear flesh from the breast of the falconer who allowed the bird to become lost.  I thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

David J. Cottrell.