A nice Clews reader named Mary poked around Project Gutenberg for some interesting true crime stories and came across all sorts of wonders. One link she sent takes us to The Riot Act of 1714, as written by the English Parliament. “Yes, the entire text of that famous law,” Mary says. “It is readable and not very long.” 
If a crowd to which it was read failed to disperse within 20 minutes of the reading of the Riot Act, they could be dispersed by force. Wikipedia has an explainer on why the king suddenly punished rioting with death here. What makes the act noteworthy is the concept that the public had to be forewarned of the use of deadly force and given the opportunity to bring their behavior into compliance with the law. Not that this softens the fact that the law justified summary executions for lawbreakers.
You only need read the first sentence once to learn exactly why “reading him the Riot Act” is a familiar cliché for "advising the ignorant as to the rules" even today – almost 300 years after the law took effect in 1715. This has to qualify as one of the longest sentences I have ever seen. Imagine the scene as the King's man appears before the angry masses and declares -- ... !
Whereas of late many rebellious riots and tumults have been in divers parts of this kingdom, to the disturbance of the publick peace, and the endangering of his Majesty's person and government, and the same are yet continued and fomented by persons disaffected to his Majesty, presuming so to do, for that the punishments provided by the laws now in being are not adequate to such heinous offences; and by such rioters his Majesty and his administration have been most maliciously and falsly traduced, with an intent to raise divisions, and to alienate the affections of the people from his Majesty therefore for the preventing and suppressing of such riots and tumults, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the offenders therein; be it enacted by the King's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and of the commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That if any persons to the number of twelve or more, being unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled together, to the disturbance of the publick peace, at any time after the last day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifteen, and being required or commanded by any one or more justice or justices of the peace, or by the sheriff of the county, or his under-sheriff, or by the mayor, bailiff or bailiffs, or other head-officer, or justice of the peace of any city or town corporate, where such assembly shall be, by proclamation to be made in the King's name, in the form herein after directed, to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, shall, to the number of twelve or more (notwithstanding such proclamation made) unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously remain or continue together by the space of one hour after such command or request made by proclamation, that then such continuing together to the number of twelve or more, after such command or request made by proclamation, shall be adjudged felony without benefit of clergy, and the offenders therein shall be adjudged felons, and shall suffer death as in a case of felony without benefit of clergy.
How far we’ve all come! Wave your flag.
(Art: Astor Place Riot, New York)
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