article_snippet: The dangerous gatherings were banned by Henry II to prevent injuries to valuable fighters.
article_snippet: The fights were treated as real battles –
article_snippet: some resulted in death and some losers were ransomed.
article_snippet: But in 1292, a new rule decreed that weapons should be blunted and the 'lance of peace' with a decorative tip was rolled out.
article_snippet: Sometimes disputes were settled by jousting and the victor was seen to have God on the victor side and was therefore not guilty.
article_snippet: The sport declined with the invention of the musket in 1520 and became a form of entertainment only.