The long bow had a far greater range and hitting power than a crossbow. A medieval long bowman would fire 6 aimed shafts a minute. The English bowman would cut down the cross bowmen before they even managed to get in to range for their cross bows.
There was a wide range of tips for the arrows of a long bow from a short twisted head to cut through mail and armour plate to a huge curved blade head to cut the horses to pieces. At one time all English men had to practice with bow so many hours each week and had show their skills after church on a Sunday in the Butts. The English bowmen where so feared that the French would cut of the first two fingers on an Englishmen hand to stop them from using a long bow. This why even today you will see British people sticking two fingers up at the oppopsition. The Archers used to do this to French to taunt them as much to say if want them come and get them.
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