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WHEREAS of late many unlawful, riotous, and tumultuous assemblies have been in divers parts of this kingdom: and whereas it is the duty of justices of the peace, and of the sheriff, and under sheriff of the county, where any unlawful riot or tumultuous assembly shall be, taking with them, if need be, the power of the county, to arrest the offenders so as to bring them to justice: be it therefore enacted 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, and by the authority of the same, That on notice or knowledge of any such unlawful, riotous, and tumultuous assembly every justice of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff, mayor, bailiff, and other head officer within the limits of their respective jurisdictions, taking with them the necessary assistance, (and they are hereby authorized and impowered to command all his Majesty's subjects of age and ability, to be assisting to them therein) shall resort to the place, where such unlawful, riotous, and tumultuous assembly shall be, and there use their utmost endeavours to disperse the same, and to apprehend and seize the offenders in order to their being proceeded against 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, in the dispersing, seizing, or apprehending, or the endeavouring to disperse, seize, and apprehend them, that then every such justice of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff, mayor, bailiff, head officer, or other peace officer, and all and singular persons being aiding or assisting to them or any of them, shall be freed, discharged, and indemnified as well against the King's Majesty, his heirs and successors, as against all and every other person and persons of, for, or concerning the killing, maiming, or hurting any such person or persons so unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled, that shall happen to be so killed, maimed, or hurt as aforesaid; and that no prosecution whatsoever shall be had or carried on against such justice or justices of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff, mayor, bailiff, head officer, or other peace officer, or person so aiding or assisting as aforesaid, on account of any such killing, maiming, or hurting, unless the same shall be commenced within twelve months next following.
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