This longbow, the crossbow's rival, was of the primitive standard bow design, made of yew wood, about five feet high, and shot arrows a yard long. The English had been developing this for a long time as a distinctive weapon. Every village green had its archery practice, and by [the year] 1300 the sturdy yeomen were achieving remarkable speed nd accuracy with this new weapon. The longbow in skillful hands could be deadly at two hundred yards, could send off approximately six aimed shots a minute, and could shoot through a full inch of wood or a horseman's armor.
(from A History of England and the British Empire)
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