I find mention made of this during the reigns of Edward III and Richard II; have you perhaps mixed up the reigns of the King Richards? Or was this part of a Robin Hood story you’ve read? (The legends of Robin Hood vary considerably as to when they took place. I’ve certainly dates as late as Edward III. It was only in later centuries that they merged around King John I.)
Anyway, if you have any sources, I’d be quite interested to learn more. (Maybe it was that the non-Freeman were not allowed to own bows?)
The first reference to “Robyn Hode” makes it quite clear that he was around in the reign of “King Edward”, not Richard the Lionheart. The location was Yorkshire, not nottingham, as well.
Stories like this tend to grow in the telling - probably we will never know the truth. Possibly we would not want to know the reality - it wouldnt be so exciting! The legend has a reality of its own - a man fighting against an oppressive government tax clampdown, in the name of the legitimate authority. A kind of loyal rebel.