BYNG, George (d.1632), of Dover, Kent

Byng, a brewer by occupation, has sometimes been confused with the west Kent esquire George Byng of Wrotham, who sat for Rochester in 1584.2 HP Commons 1558-1603, i. 524. By that date this Member was settled at Dover. He subsequently became one of the town’s jurats, and had a long career as a defender of the privileges of the Cinque Ports, beginning in 1599 when he was appointed solicitor with Richard Lyffe* and James Thurbarne* to obtain a tax rebate and a patent for exemption from billeting. He was granted £1 11s. for his ‘painful travel’, served as Speaker in the first Guestling of the new reign, and helped to carry the canopy at the coronation.3Cal. of White and Black Bks. of Cinque Ports, 360, 370; Add. 29623, f. 2.

Elected to Parliament in 1604, Byng was permitted 6s. a day as wages during the session and horse-hire in both directions. He left little trace on the records of the first Stuart Parliament, but he was probably an active lobbyist on behalf of his constituency, for on 20 Apr. 1604 the corporation resolved to write to him ‘to invite certain of the burgesses of the Parliament he shall think meet to a dinner or supper’. The purpose of this dinner was to rally support for the bill to renew the Act enabling Dover to levy tolls on passing ships, which had expired on the death of Elizabeth. The bill, which was needed to finance harbour repairs, was subsequently enacted, and in July, after the Parliament had been prorogued, Byng ‘made relation of his continuance of the statute for repairing the haven for seven years’, and presented his bill for ‘extraordinary expenses’.4 Add. 29623, ff. 4-5. He was in office as mayor of Dover throughout the second session, which he probably did not attend. His only committee was for the free trade bill in the next session (26 Nov. 1606).5 CJ, i. 325a. In July 1609 he was appointed by the Guestling to act as solicitor for the Cinque Ports over their grievances against the Admiralty jurisdiction of the lord warden. However, on 25 Aug. he was presented at the borough court ‘for selling and delivering certain barrels of beer into the houses or cellars of several inhabitants’.6Cal. of White and Black Bks. of Cinque Ports, 391; Add. 28036, f. 17v. He was certainly in London during the fifth session, as the corporation resolved on 25 Nov. 1610 to write to him ‘to prosecute further the plea in [the] Exchequer for licence to export beer and corn’.7 Add. 29623, f. 19. In July 1614 the Guestling ordered him ‘to collect from all ports and members ... notes of grievances against charters and customs’. 8 Cal. of White and Black Bks. of Cinque Ports, 404. As senior jurat he gave evidence to the committee for privileges on 23 Mar. 1624 for the narrow franchise.9 Add. 29623, f. 65. He was buried at St. Mary’s, Dover in November 1632, leaving John Pringle* as executor of his nuncupative will.10 Cent. Kent. Stud. PRC32/50/24. Nothing further is known of his family.