Posse comitatus
Posse comitatus
[Latin posse to be able, to have power + Late Latin comitatus a county, from comes, comitis, a count. See County, and Power.]
1.
(Law) The power of the county, or the citizens who may be summoned by the sheriff to assist the authorities in suppressing a riot, or executing any legal precept which is forcibly opposed. — Blackstone
2.
A collection of people; a throng; a rabble. [Colloquial]
As if the passion that rules were the sheriff of the place, and came off with all the posse.
The word comitatus is often omitted, and posse alone used. “A whole posse of enthusiasts.”