Why we won Battles and Wars in the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages we learned to use a simple hunting weapon as the Weapon of Mass Destruction of it's day. We now know it as the Longbow but it wasn't known as that at the time and was probably called simply a 'War Bow'. Whoever the government of the day was, whichever King was on the throne it was considered a serious business keeping the male population trained and battle ready and numerous laws were passed to ensure it was thus.

'All Englishmen between the ages of 15 and 60 years old are required by Law to equip with a bow and arrows'  -  Assize of Arms 1252

'All Englishmen must practice their skill with the bow every Sunday'   -  Archery Law 1363

'Any Archer who killed a man shall be absolved of murder if it occurred during archery practice' 

Decree by King Henry I

'The minimum range for target practice of anyone over 24yrs shall be no less than 220 yards'

Archery Act 1542

' Any new and crafty games such as logetting in the fields and shove groat are distracting men from practicing their archery and are therefore banned,  -  Unlawful Games Act 1541

' Fletchers and Bowyers are forbidden to inhabit themselves in Scotland or other places out of this realm where working and teaching their science to the puissance of the same, to the great comfort of the estrangers and the detriment of this realm'  -  Unlawful Games Act 1541