BYNGLEY, John

Byngley was evidently a local man but his early life and family connexions are obscure. There is no evidence to link him with the John Byngley who enlisted under Thomas Chaucer* for service in Henry V’s first invasion of France in 1415,2 N.H. Nicolas, Agincourt, 359. although he might have served as a victualler for that campaign as in April the following year he and William Malyn were licensed to purvey 500 quarters of oats in Kent and Sussex.3 CPR, 1416-22, p. 8. The first mention of Byngley in the Dover records was in December 1425 when he was appointed by the mayor as an arbiter in a property dispute between two local men.4 Egerton 2088, f. 219. He made his home in Shipman Ward and by 1434 was one of the constables there.5 Egerton 2105, f. 39v.

Byngley had already served as a jurat of Dover when he was elected to his first Parliament which was called to assemble at Leicester on 16 Feb. 1426, and, although a list of jurats is missing for 1425-6, it is likely that he was still serving as such when chosen as a parliamentary baron. He received wages for attending Parliament from 14 Feb., when he probably left Dover for Leicester, until 28 Mar., and then for the second session from 23 Apr. until 6 June, almost certainly the day he arrived back home. He received full payment within weeks of his return, being paid at the rate of 2s. 6d. a day until 19 May, and thereafter at only 1s. 8d. a day. 6 Add. 29615, f. 112v. This was because for the last 18 days of the session he also represented the interests of the Port of New Romney, after the latter’s barons went home early. New Romney paid him 30s. to bring his wages up to the expected total.7 E. Kent Archs., New Romney recs., assmt. bk. 1384-1446, NR/FAc 2, f. 107v.

After this, Byngley continued to be employed in the affairs of the town of Dover. The following year he was chosen as one of the four chamberlains and may have served as Dover’s bailiff to Yarmouth. He also received 7s. 10d. for payments made at the special request of Walter Stratton*, the mayor. Like many other leading Portsmen, he became involved in Dover’s dispute with Faversham over the payment of the townsmen’s contribution as a member-port. In 1428-9 he was paid 18s. 8d. for time spent at Canterbury and arranging horse hire for Dover’s representatives there, and he returned to Canterbury the same year to plead with the King’s ministers concerning the parliamentary subsidy. The same year he rode with John Braban* to discuss matters with the Portsmen of Hythe, and received 12d. for supervising the watch In November 1429 he attended Henry VI’s coronation, along with Stratton, and received 20s. for six days attendance.8 Add. 29615, ff. 116, 143-4, 147v-8, 153, 158. Byngley was again involved in Dover’s dispute with Faversham in 1430. In that year, along with William Hammond* and two other local men, he seized certain goods belonging to the Faversham merchant, Stephen Magot. In return for the restitution of Magot’s goods, the mayor and commonalty of Faversham agreed to pay their arrears to Dover.9 Egerton 2105, f. 4v. In October the following year Byngley attended a meeting of the Brodhull, a duty he also performed on at least one other occasion, in January 1434.10 Add. 29615, f. 175; White and Black Bks. of Cinque Ports (Kent Rec. Ser. xix), 3.

In July 1433 Byngley served for a second time as one of the barons for Dover, sitting again alongside the town clerk, Thomas Frankleyn*. Both men attended Parliament for 42 days. On this occasion, however, the payment of parliamentary wages was a little more drawn out, with Byngley not being satisfied of his full entitlement until the following year. He also travelled to New Romney to deliver 20s. owed to James Lowys*, who had continued to represent Dover’s interests at Westminster after Byngley and Frankelyn had returned home.11 Add. 29615, ff. 185, 188, 191v, 198.

Little evidence survives of Byngley’s private affairs, but it seems clear that his connexions were mainly with Dover and the other Ports. In July 1426 he acted as one of the feoffees of John Braban and John Baker in granting a messuage in Snargate ward to John Dalby, rector of St. Nicholas’s parish church, free of rent on condition that he would offer prayers for the soul of John Strete†, a former mayor of Dover.12 E326/1353; Dover Chs. ed. Statham, 461. In December 1435, probably again acting as a feoffee, he and Braban empowered Thomas Frankelyn to act as their attorney in the conveyance of a plot of land called ‘Gylys Coombe’ to William Brewes* and his wife.13 E326/3911; Dover Chs. 462. Like his fellow jurats, he was called upon to act as an arbiter in local disputes. In 1433, for example, he was one of four arbiters appointed to settle a dispute between Walter Nesham* and Thomas Walcote.14 Add. 29615, f. 210. He also acted as a surety for complainants in the mayor’s court.15 Egerton 2105, f. 7v. At times he found himself involved in litigation before the mayor, as in 1429 when he was sued by his colleague John Braban for debt.16 Egerton 2089, ff. 7v-8. Byngley was chosen as one of the jurats for the last time in September 1434 and probably died shortly afterwards as there are no further references to him. He was certainly dead by 1437 when he was not listed among those leading Portsmen assessed to pay murage.17 Add. 29615, f. 175v.