"Our Sovereign Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the Act made in the first year of King George, for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God Save the King! " The "pains" referred to were very harsh, and could even include death. But there were actually cases of rioters (who must number at least 12, and were given an hour to disperse after the reading) escaping punishment because the "reader" had changed or left out some part of it. In particular he might have forgotten to say "God Save the King!"
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 00:31:49 +0000
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