Riot Act
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary · Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
St. 1 Geo. I. st. 2, c.
5, providing that, if any twelve persons or more are committing a riot, any sheriff, mayor, or certain other officers shall by proclamation in the king's name command them to disperse (which is familiarly called "reading the riot act"), and that, if they refuse to obey, and remain together for the space of one hour after such proclamation, they are all guilty of felony. RIOTOSE (Law Lat. riotously.) A formal and essential word in old indictments for riots.
2 Strange, 834.
Riotose et routose, riotously and routously.
2 Salk. 593.