Description

While the bow was used throughout ancient times and the Middle Ages on mainland Europe it was mostly replaced by the crossbow in the early 13th century but that would change with the introduction of the longbow a more powerful weapon than the traditional hunting bows The original longbowmen were Welshmen recruited by King Edward I of England after he conquered Wales and the weapon got its name from the fact that it was almost as tall as the man using it This gave it a longer draw and therefore more force as longbows were generally made of yew a strong and pliable wood The longbow was cheap and easy to make but they required extensive training to be used well so in England commoners were encouraged and at times required to practice archery A statute of Richard II dating from 1388 reads Servants and Laborers shall have Bows and Arrows and use the same the Sundays and Holydays and leave all playing at tennis or football and other games called coits dice casting of the stone kaikles skittles and other such importune games