The East Hanningfield Riot of 1571

While haymaking in Panfield Mead, East Hanningfield on land belonging to Thomas Pyke in 1571, his wife and three of his men were unable to withstand the assault of a crowd of 34 labourers, half of them unnamed, the rest of East and West Hanningfield and Runwell, who took away eight cart loads of hay worth £6. Pyke's men then apparently entered the field or meadow ofJohn Skelton, first named of the crowd, and got their own back on him and three of his party. The case against Skelton and his sixteen men was transferred to the Assizes (but does not seem to be in its records) while Pyke and his servants were fined 2s. 6d. each.

Emmison FG, Elizabethan Life - Disorder, Essex Record Office