Background
Layer was the son of William Layer, Mayor of Norwich and began his career as a grocer.
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Christopher Layer
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He was one of the leading citizens of Norwich, serving as Sheriff for 1569-1570, Alderman in 1570 and Mayor in 1581-1582 and 1589-1590. He imported goods from the Netherlands and invested in land and houses in Norwich, at Theberton, and elsewhere in Suffolk, and at Booton, Cawston, and Cringleford in Norfolk. His attempts to enclose the common at Great Witchingham in Norfolk led him into a long series of lawsuits.
During his second Parliament the two burgesses for Norwich were appointed to committees concerning navigation (12 November), the bishop of Norwich (30 November), land reclamation (3 December), cloth (8 December), and malt (12 January 1598).
During his Membership Norwich paid him expenses of five shillings a day while attending the relatively brief parliamentary sessions. He was described by an opponent as a very politique and worldly minded man most regarding his own private commodity.
Layer died 19 June 1600 and was buried at Saint John's, Maddermarket, Norwich. The four figurines encased in the two pilasters of The Layer Monument in the Church of Street John Maddermarket are rare examples of Northern Mannerism sculpture in Britain.
He died in 1600.
Membership
He served briefly as one of the two Members of Parliament for Norwich in 1584–1585 and again in 1597–1598.
