Read Them the Riot Act

"Our Sovereign Lord the King commands and charges all those present to peacefully disperse and return to their homes or places of legitimate business in accordance with the provisions of the act passed in the first year of King George to prevent riots and tumultuous gatherings. God Save the King"

You were just given the riot act. The part of the Riot Act of 1715 that had to be read aloud before giving people a grace period of 60 minutes to disperse was the actual Riot Act of 1715. If they didn't, they would be charged with a felony and taken into custody.

Today, to "read someone the riot act" is to admonish or chastise them appropriately, but back then, the crime might have resulted in the death penalty. Because George I was the first English king descended from the House of Hanover, if this seems a little harsh, that's because it is. Many people still supported the previous dynasty, the House of Stuart, and several violent riots had already broken out before George's crowning. The Riot Act forbade people from congregating in groups of 12 or more in an effort to put a stop to such brutal outbreaks.