 Irby became recorder and town clerk of Stamford, Lincolnshire.In 1588 some of the burgesses of Stamford terminated his appointment as recorder and possibly as a result, when he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) that year, it was for Boston.After making enquiries in January 1589, the Privy Council ordered in March that Irby, "a gentleman of good discretion, credit and learning", should be reinstated as recorder of Stamford, although this only happened after the burgesses were given two warnings.