Compare 1577 edition: 1 But here yée haue to vnderstand, that this Hen|rie Fitz Alwin had béene maior of London long be|fore this time, euen from the first yeare of king Ri|chard (as Iohn Stow hath gathered out of ancient in|struments and records) vnto this present tenth yeare of king Iohn, and now vpon grant made to the citi|zens, Iohn Stow. that it should be lawfull for them to choose euerie yeare a maior, and two shiriffes, for the better go|uernment of their citie, the said Henrie Fitz Alwin was newlie by them elected, and likewise after|wards from yeare to yeare, till he departed this life, which chanced in the yeare 1213, and fifteenth of king Iohns reigne, so that he continued maior of the same citie of London, by the terme of twentie and foure yeares.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 ¶ Now therefore bicause it appeareth here how the gouernors of the citie of London had their names altered for their greater honour, and the state of go|uernment thereby partlie changed, or rather confir|med; I haue thought good (though verie breefelie) to touch somewhat the signification of this word Maire,The signifi|cation of this word Maire. Wulf. Laz. Berosus. before I procéed any further with the rest of this hi|storie. The ancient inhabitants of Franconia, or Frankenland, from whome the Frenchmen are des|cended, and their neighbors the old Saxons, of whom the Englishmen haue their originall, being people of Germanie, and descended (as Berosus saith) of the the old Hebrues, haue reteined manie Hebrue words, either from the beginning, or else borowed them abroad in other regions which they conquered, passing by force of armes through a great part of the world. For no doubt, by conuersation with those peo|ple whom they subdued, they brought home into their owne countrie and toong manie borowed words, so that their language hath no small store of them fet|ched out of sundrie strange toongs.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Now among other old words remaining in their toong, this word Mar was one, which in Hebrue signi|fieth Dominus, (that is to saie, lord) but pronounced now somewhat corruptlie Maire. So as it is to be supposed, hereof it came to passe that the head officer and lieutenant to the prince, as well in London as in other cities and townes of the realme, are called by that name of maior, though in the cities of London and Yorke, for an augmentation of honour by an an|cient custome (through ignorance what the title of EEBO page image 173 maire d [...]oth signifie) they haue an addition, and are intituled by the name of lord maire, where Maire simplie pronounced of it selfe, signifieth no lesse than lord, without any such addition. Thus much for the name of Maire. And now to procéed.