1411: 13 Henry 4 c.7: The justices of peace and the Sheriffs shall arrest those which commit any riot, &c. inquire of them, and record their offences.

[Bro. Riots, 5. Raym. 386. The justices of peace and the sheriffs shall arrest those who commit any riots, &c.]

ITEM, it is ordained and established, That if any riot assembly, or rout of people against the law, be made in parties of the realm, that the justices of peace, three, or two of them at the least, and the sheriff or under-sheriff of the county where such riot, assembly, or rout shall be made hereafter, shall come with the power of the county (if need be) to arrest them, and shall arrest them;

(2) and the same justices and sheriff, or under-sheriff, shall have power to record that which they shall find so done in their presence against the law;

(3) and that by the record of the same justices and sheriff, or under-sheriff, such trespassers and offenders shall be convict in the same manner and form as is contained in the statute of forcible entries;

[5 R. 2. stat. 1. c. 7. 15 R. 2. c. 2. Inquiry of the offenders.]

(4) And if it happen that such trespassers and offenders be departed before the coming of the said justices and sheriff, or under-sheriff, that the same justices, three, or two of them, shall diligently inquire within a month after such riot, assembly, or rout of people so made, and thereof shall hear and determine according to the law of the land.

[Certificate of a riot, and the punishment of offenders.]

II. And if the truth cannot be found in the manner as is aforesaid, then within a month then next following, the justices, three, or two of them, and the sheriff or under-sheriff shall certify before the King and his council all the deed and circumstances thereof, (2) which certificate shall be of like force as the presentment of twelve; upon which certificate the said trespassers and offenders shall be put to answer, and they which shall be found guilty, shall be punished according to the discretion of the King and his council.

[A traverse of a riot triable in the King’s bench.]

III. And if such trespassers and offenders do traverse the matter so certified, the same certificate and traverse shall be sent into the King’s bench, there to be tried and determined as the law requireth.

(2) And if the same trespassers do not appear before the King and his council, or in the King’s bench, at the first precept, then shall be another precept directed to the sheriff of the county, to take the said trespassers and offenders, if they may be found, and to bring them at a certain day before the King and his council, or into the King’s bench.

[Conviction of offenders for default of appearance.]

(3) And if they cannot be found, That the sheriff or under-sheriff, shall make proclamation in his full county next ensuing the delivery of the second precept, that they shall appear before the King and his said council, or in the King’s bench, or in the chancery in the time of vacation, within three weeks then next following.

(4) And in case the same offenders come not as afore is said, and the proclamation made and returned, they shall be convict and attainted of the riot, assembly, or rout aforesaid, notwithstanding any article or ordinance made to the contrary

[The penalty of the next justices omitting their office.]

IV. And moreover, That the justices of peace dwelling highest in every county where such riot, assembly, or rout of people shall be made hereafter, together with the sheriff or under-sheriff of the same county, and also the justices of assizes for the time that they shall be there in their session,

[Raft. 383. 17 R. 2. c. 8. 2 H. 5. stat. 1. c. 8. 11 H. 7. c. 7. 19 H. 7. c. 13.]

in case that any such riot, assembly, or rout be made in their presence, shall do execution of this statute, every one upon pain of an hundred pounds, to be paid to the King as often as they shall be found in default of the execution of the same statute.

Source: Pickering, Statutes at Large, vol. 2.

Further reading: Wikipedia.