Dear Bernard, In a reply to the question posted by Chris on the continued French use of the column in David Chandler’s book On the Napoleonic Wars he does mention a little known fact that in the Battle of Madia in 1806 the French fought in Line. And of course at Albuera they used a mix of both column and line which came very close to winning.

On a complete tangent in all the archer novels I noticed that most of the famous battles are set ala Crecy and the future Agincourt book you mentioned are against the French with Niveilles Cross made out as the exception rather than the rule. Yet the fighting with Scots was far longer/tougher and more bitter yet in Vagabond the English and Scots seemed to get on like jolly good chums after the fight. Robbie even became Thomas’ side kick – I wondered if that was deliberate dare I say do you see the French as the politcally correct enemy that’s ok to hate and fight?? Or have you ever considered writing about the Border Fighting and thought about writing about the Archer victory’s at the Battles of Falkirk or Halidon Hill??????

I know one of the modern issues bought up in the country at the moment is the famous West Lothian question and the resentment this is causing in England which has suddenly turned Gordon Brown who wants to be the next PM into a Brit rather than a scot. I wondered what your thoughts were on the whole issue??

Finally on another tangent/recommendation – Have you read Frank Kitson’s duology on Prince Rupert which cover both his fighting on Land and less known but argubly more enduring (for the navy at least) time at Sea and have you ever thought about the Dutch wars of the 1600’s with the Napoleonic wars a bit saturated ???? Anyway all the best Tony P.S Others have mentioned the battle of Hastings. Let me say you are considered Britain’s most famous writer of historical fiction what better topic to write about than Britain’s most famous battle! Tony