https://www.forbes.com/2010/06/16/legal-humor-archery-opinions-columnists-kevin-underhill.html https://www.forbes.com/2010/06/16/legal-humor-archery-opinio...

https://www.forbes.com/2010/06/16/legal-humor-archery-opinions-columnists-kevin-underhill.html https://www.forbes.com/2010/06/16/legal-humor-archery-opinio... says that the English were required to practice the longbow starting before the 13th Century. In 1541 every man 60 and under was to have a longbow and practice it. Many games were then banned for possibly distracting men from archery. Interestingly there's no information on where the bows were to come from but it sounds like the typical longbowman would have the income to buy it himself.