122. GEORGE I: STATUTES
An act for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters. Whereas of late many rebellious riots and tumults have been in divers parts of this kingdom, to the disturbance of the public peace and the endangering of his majesty's person and government ...: therefore ... be it enacted ... that, if any persons to the number of twelve or more, being unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled together to the disturbance of the public peace ... , 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 ... , by proclamation to be made in the king's name in the form hereinafter directed, to disperse themselves and peaceably to depart to their habitations or to their lawful business, shall ... unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously remain or continue together by the space of one hour after such command or request ... , that then such continuing together ... shall be adjudged felony without benefit of clergy, and the offenders therein shall be adjudged felons, and shall suffer death as in case of felony without benefit of clergy.
And be it further enacted ... that the order and form of the proclamation ... shall be as hereafter followeth: that is to say, the ... person authorized by this act to make the said proclamation shall, among the said rioters or as near to them as he can safely come, with a loud voice command, or cause to be commanded silence to be while proclamation is making, and after that shall openly and with loud voice make or cause to be made proclamation in these words, or like in effect: "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!" ...
And be it further enacted ... that, if such persons ... shall continue together and not disperse themselves within one hour, that then it shall be ... lawful to and for every justice of the peace ... and other peace officer ... , and for such other ... persons as shall be commanded to be assisting unto any such justice of the peace ... or other head officer aforesaid ... to seize and apprehend such persons so unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously continuing together ... and forthwith to carry the persons so apprehended before one or more of his majesty's justices of the peace ... in order to their being proceeded against for such their offences according to law; and that, if the persons so unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled, or any of them, shall happen to be killed, maimed, or hurt ... by reason of their resisting the persons so dispersing, seizing, or apprehending ... them, that then every such justice of the peace ... or other peace officer, and all and singular persons, being aiding and assisting to them ... , shall be free, discharged, and indemnified ... of, for, or concerning the killing, maiming, or hurting of any such person or persons....
Statutes at Large, XIII, 142 f.; 1 George I, st. 2, c. 5.
An act for enlarging the time of continuance of parliaments.... Whereas, in and by act of parliament made in the sixth year of the reign of their late majesties King William and Queen Mary ... ,[2] it was among other things enacted that from henceforth no parliament whatsoever ... should have any continuance longer than for three years ...; and whereas it hath been found by experience that the said clause hath proved very grievous and burdensome, by occasioning much greater and more continued expenses in ... elections of members to serve in parliament, and more violent and lasting heats and animosities among the subjects of this realm ...; and [whereas] the said provision, if it should continue, may probably at this juncture, when a restless and popish faction are designing and endeavouring to renew the rebellion within this kingdom and an invasion from abroad, be destructive to the peace and security of the government: be it enacted ... that this present parliament and all parliaments that shall at any time hereafter be called ... , shall ... have continuance for seven years and no longer ... , unless this present or any such parliament hereafter to be summoned shall be sooner dissolved by his majesty, his heirs, or successors.
Ibid., XIII, 282: 1 George I, st. 2, c. 38.
(C) Irish Parliament Act (1719)[3]
An act for the better securing the dependency of the kingdom of Ireland upon the crown of Great Britain. Whereas the house of lords of Ireland have of late against law assumed to themselves a power and jurisdiction to examine, correct, and amend the judgments and decrees of the courts of justice in the kingdom of Ireland: therefore, for the better securing of the dependency of Ireland upon the crown of Great Britain ... , be it declared by the king's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and commons in this present parliament assembled ... , that the said kingdom of Ireland hath been, is, and of right ought to be subordinate unto and dependent upon the imperial crown of Great Britain, as being inseparably united and annexed thereunto; and that the king's majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons of Great Britain in parliament assembled, had, hath, and of right ought to have full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the kingdom and people of Ireland. And be it further declared and enacted ... that the house of lords of Ireland have not nor of right ought to have any jurisdiction to judge of, affirm, or reverse any judgment, sentence, or decree, given or made in any court within the said kingdom; and that all proceedings before the said house of lords upon any such judgment sentence, or decree are and are hereby declared to be utterly null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever.
Ibid., XIV, 204 f.: 6 George I, c. 5.
[1] Cf. no 123C.
[2] No. 120E.
[3] Cf. no. 73D.
