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How or why did the English become a bow culture?

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SimonUK:
I think only a handful of other bows have been found axel. I understand that the Scandinavian bows were very similar to the English longbow. So you're probably right - the whole of northern europe had this culture. Maybe it's the fact that it was used so famously in France and Scotland that gave the english longbow it's reputation. What kind of archery sayings do you have in Scandinavia?

axel:
several different are about taking the chance of drawing the bow. Aim higher and draw the string further , one is from a really nice poem saying something like "better listen to the string that broke than never even draw a bow". we have highly strung here too. will try to think of more.

SimonUK:

--- Quote ---better listen to the string that broke than never even draw a bow
--- End quote ---

I like that one. It's like 'better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all'

markinengland:
Recent books like The Great Warbow seem to have moved away from the idea that the "English" longbow derives in any way from the Welsh bow and say that it was brought in by the Normans. The Normans were basically of Norse descent. the Norse used longbows identical to the English Warbow. Many of the Britians fighting William the Conqueror were of Norse descent, some actually related to him. The fight was after all about William's claim to the English throne!
From what I have read it seems that the English were able to develop the use of the warbow because of the tightly controlled fuedal system. In England they were able to ensure that the fuedal lords provided set amounts and types of men for war. As the use of archery was realised to be effective and as the king could command that archers be provided it was possible. In countries like France where there was less control over the Lords and peasantry it was impossible to command the same. Hence we won and the French lost until eventually the French did finally put archers on the field to combat us, mainly Scots and other mercenaries.

Pat B:
..."the rule of thumb" (fistmele) and "A parting shot" are a few archery related sayings I know of.   Pat

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