Aye... These things could go through plate armor like it wasn't there.

Not really. Chain oh yes but plate no not really. Even early firearms might not penetrate some plate armors. There was plate armor that was made to stop even early firearms. If a gun bullet would not make it through the plate armor a crossbow bolt would never have a chance.

Really? I'd better brush up on that. I was under the impression that the foot bow, which I believe had a pull of over 200 pounds could go through plate armor, but it was difficult to use. I figured that this was an "Improved" version of a big bow, but I couldn't see the full mechanism clearly. Interesting image though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeGtPxLwkuk

Now understand that is a suit of modern costume armor in the video it was not a suit of proof armor. Prof armor was only bullet proof in the torso the arms legs and head was not bullet proof and only bullet proof against early black power muskets. There are more modern suits of plate armor that is effective against modern rifles but it is so cumbersome that its out right useless in a real fight.

Wow. Thanks for the YouTube link. I guess at long range a matchlock is superior to the bows and hand gun, but all the bows are good at close range. I appreciated how the narrator/bowman mentioned that at maximum range the crossbows still had to account for windage though.