You can actually see it there catching the wind!  
You can actually see it there catching the wind!  

Hi it's Tod from Tod's Workshop and Tod Cutler  here and today we're going to be looking at the  
Hi it's Tod from Tod's Workshop and Tod Cutler  here and today we're going to be looking at the  

battle of Towton and what happened when they  tried to shoot with a following wind and into  
battle of Towton and what happened when they  tried to shoot with a following wind and into  

a headwind. Lockdown Longbow has returned!  Now here's the deal; this is a crossbow it is  
a headwind. Lockdown Longbow has returned!  Now here's the deal; this is a crossbow it is  

not a longbow. I get it. But I nicknamed it the  lockdown longbow because you know the beginning  
not a longbow. I get it. But I nicknamed it the  lockdown longbow because you know the beginning  

of last year I found out it could shoot these  medieval weight war arrows at the same speed  
of last year I found out it could shoot these  medieval weight war arrows at the same speed  

as my mate Joe Gibbs shoots them from his 160  pound yew longbow, that allows me, because I  
as my mate Joe Gibbs shoots them from his 160  pound yew longbow, that allows me, because I  

can't pull bows like that, that allows me to do  testing in my backyard or in a farmer's field  
can't pull bows like that, that allows me to do  testing in my backyard or in a farmer's field  

to find out what longbow arrows could do, would  do, can do. Now I know I'm here at the trebuchet,  
to find out what longbow arrows could do, would  do, can do. Now I know I'm here at the trebuchet,  

but that's because I have a fantastic open field  behind me and the wind is coming right towards the  
but that's because I have a fantastic open field  behind me and the wind is coming right towards the  

trebuchet so it's just perfect for me to use it as  a shooting marker. So what happened on that day,  
trebuchet so it's just perfect for me to use it as  a shooting marker. So what happened on that day,  

29th of March 1461. Little Yorkshire village of  Towton. Well the Yorkists and the Lancasterians  
29th of March 1461. Little Yorkshire village of  Towton. Well the Yorkists and the Lancasterians  

were facing off against each other and there was  a lot of wind, that we know from the accounts,  
were facing off against each other and there was  a lot of wind, that we know from the accounts,  

and so what happened was the Yorkists used it to  their advantage and they shot with a tailwind.  
and so what happened was the Yorkists used it to  their advantage and they shot with a tailwind.  

The Lancastrians thought they were out of range  and they weren't but their arrows landed short  
The Lancastrians thought they were out of range  and they weren't but their arrows landed short  

apparently and then the Yorkists just shot and  shot because they knew they couldn't run out of  
apparently and then the Yorkists just shot and  shot because they knew they couldn't run out of  

ammunition, picked up the Lancastrians arrows,  shot them back and the Lancastrians well they  
ammunition, picked up the Lancastrians arrows,  shot them back and the Lancastrians well they  

then had to attack and it ended in a rout. Very  bad day for them. We don't know how many people  
then had to attack and it ended in a rout. Very  bad day for them. We don't know how many people  

died that day but the estimates are up up to one  percent of the adult male population of England  
died that day but the estimates are up up to one  percent of the adult male population of England  

died in that one day and that is extraordinary.  So what I'm here to do really is just to find out,  
died in that one day and that is extraordinary.  So what I'm here to do really is just to find out,  

can I get any truth out of this? So apparently  according to weather, we're gusting up to 40 miles  
can I get any truth out of this? So apparently  according to weather, we're gusting up to 40 miles  

an hour now so this is sort of blizzard territory,  now a long way over there is my lockdown longbow  
an hour now so this is sort of blizzard territory,  now a long way over there is my lockdown longbow  

shield, it's about 300 paces out so I think  it's time that we went and shot some stuff  
shield, it's about 300 paces out so I think  it's time that we went and shot some stuff  

and I've got these my trusty m2 lockdown  longbow bolts, arrows call them what you will,  
and I've got these my trusty m2 lockdown  longbow bolts, arrows call them what you will,  

from Will Sherman. So let's go shoot some stuff!  I'm going to load up now and then I'm going to  
from Will Sherman. So let's go shoot some stuff!  I'm going to load up now and then I'm going to  

wait for a good gust and then we'll shoot. Now  obviously I want to get the elevation right for  
wait for a good gust and then we'll shoot. Now  obviously I want to get the elevation right for  

this and reasonably consistent anywhere between  about 35 and 40 degrees will give us maximum  
this and reasonably consistent anywhere between  about 35 and 40 degrees will give us maximum  

range, I've showed that on previous films, so  let's wait for that gust and then we'll go.
range, I've showed that on previous films, so  let's wait for that gust and then we'll go.

And there it goes straight shot okay so that went  a little left of the shield we're gonna go again.
And there it goes straight shot okay so that went  a little left of the shield we're gonna go again.

Second one out.
Second one out.

A little bit right of the shield. Now this bow  here is simulating around about 160 pound draw  
A little bit right of the shield. Now this bow  here is simulating around about 160 pound draw  

weight longbow, now of course they were  shooting into a snow storm, cold weather  
weight longbow, now of course they were  shooting into a snow storm, cold weather  

now anybody who shoots a bow, a natural  bow knows that the draw weight increases  
now anybody who shoots a bow, a natural  bow knows that the draw weight increases  

in cold weather so I deliberately opted for the  160 pound simulator not the 125 pound simulator.
in cold weather so I deliberately opted for the  160 pound simulator not the 125 pound simulator.

And that's the third one.
And that's the third one.

And down. Impossible for us to film, but  what we're going to do is walk it out,  
And down. Impossible for us to film, but  what we're going to do is walk it out,  

go see what we've got and then we're going to  shoot back this way and measure the distance,  
go see what we've got and then we're going to  shoot back this way and measure the distance,  

so i'll see you over there. Well this has already  got interesting, I haven't shot this for distance  
so i'll see you over there. Well this has already  got interesting, I haven't shot this for distance  

but I expected more than 200 meters and that's  around about what we've got here and my two  
but I expected more than 200 meters and that's  around about what we've got here and my two  

other arrows are about 6 meters on either side  of me actually, this is the one in the center  
other arrows are about 6 meters on either side  of me actually, this is the one in the center  

and now we're going to shoot with the tailwind and  we're going to see what kind of distance we get.  
and now we're going to shoot with the tailwind and  we're going to see what kind of distance we get.  

This is getting interesting. Again I'm just  waiting for some gusting and then we'll shoot.
This is getting interesting. Again I'm just  waiting for some gusting and then we'll shoot.

uh well that's certainly  flying right let's go again.
uh well that's certainly  flying right let's go again.

Oh that is long; right here's the last one,  let's just wait for a big gust and we'll go.
Oh that is long; right here's the last one,  let's just wait for a big gust and we'll go.

You could actually see it there catching the wind.  Right let's go see what we got. Well here, I am  
You could actually see it there catching the wind.  Right let's go see what we got. Well here, I am  

on the other side of the trebuchet there's an  arrow behind me there there's another one just in  
on the other side of the trebuchet there's an  arrow behind me there there's another one just in  

front of me here, no idea where the third one's  gone assume it went the same kind of distance,  
front of me here, no idea where the third one's  gone assume it went the same kind of distance,  

now what was that distance? Well shooting  into the wind it was about 200 meters,  
now what was that distance? Well shooting  into the wind it was about 200 meters,  

shooting with the wind behind me it was a whopping  280 meters, that is one heck of a difference.  
shooting with the wind behind me it was a whopping  280 meters, that is one heck of a difference.  

So when they're talking about Towton and the  snowstorm and it made a difference to how far you  
So when they're talking about Towton and the  snowstorm and it made a difference to how far you  

shot, yes it certainly could have done. Of course  we got no idea what strength the wind was and  
shot, yes it certainly could have done. Of course  we got no idea what strength the wind was and  

this was gusting high 40 but I think most of it  probably about 25, maybe 30 miles an hour, but it  
this was gusting high 40 but I think most of it  probably about 25, maybe 30 miles an hour, but it  

made a big difference. So is it myth about Towton  well maybe, but it's also true. See you again.
made a big difference. So is it myth about Towton  well maybe, but it's also true. See you again.