# maioresse
## English
### Noun

maioresse (plural not attested)
* Obsolete spelling of mayoress.
** [1571?], [Leonard Gibson], A Very Proper Dittie: to the Tune of Lightie Loue Leaue Lightie Loue Ladies, for Feare of Yll name: and True Loue Embrace Ye, to Purchace Your Fame, London: […] Richard Ihones:An Epitaph on the death of the vertuous Matrone, the Ladie Maioresse, late wyfe to the right Honorable Lorde, (Alexander Auenet) Lord Maior of the Citie of London. Who deceased the vii. Daie of Iuly. 1570.
** 1598, The Riddles of Heraclitus and Democritus, London: […] Arn. Hatfield, for Iohn Norton:IN a towne, where the Praetor is wise, the Counsell wittie, is a slouenly citizen, to whom many are so indebted, that they haue much to doe, to pay for the forbearance, and no man can get a generall quietus est at his hand till he be dead; which yet is longed for of very few. For both the principall agents in the corporation, receiue maintenance from him: and the Maioresse, with the other good wiues, doe so fansie him, and the fore man of his shop, Bawdie Brian, that there is many times much misgouernance thereby in the whole towne: notwithstanding any edict, proclamation, or reclamation that the magistrate can make.
** 1600, [Thomas Heywood], The First and Second Partes of King Edward the Fourth […], London: […] F[elix] K[ingston] for Humfrey Lownes and Iohn Oxenbridge:Oh are ye come? welcome good Cosin Shoare, / But you indéed are welcome gentle Niece. / Needs must you be our Ladie Maioresse now, / And helpe vs, or else we are shamde for euer, / Good Cosin still thus am I bolde with you. / Sh. / With all my heart my Lord, & thank ye too, / That you do please to vse our homely help. / Ma. / Why sée how neatly she bestirs her selfe, / And in good sooth makes huswifery to shine? / Ah had my Ladie Maioresse liu’de to see / Faire Mistresse Shoare thus beautifie her house, / She would haue beene not little proud thereof.
** 1616, Beniamin Ionson, The Workes of Beniamin Ionson, London: […] W: Stansby, page 554:So I iudg’d by the phisiognomy of the fellow, that came in; and I had a dreame last night too of the new pageant, and my lady Maioresse, which is alwaies very ominous to me.
** 1617, Blasius Multibibus, aliàs Drinkmuch [pseudonym; Richard Brathwait], A Solemne Ioviall Disputation, Theoreticke and Practicke; Briefely Shadowing the Lavv of Drinking Together, with the Solemnities and Controversies Occurring: Fully and Freely Discussed According to the Civill Lavv. […], Oenozphthopolis [i.e., London]: […] [i.e., printed by E. Griffin], page 103:BRAVE and puissant Neptune, and you sacred Queene of the nine Iles, Lady maioresse of the great Ocean, Governesse of the lower Elements, Commandresse of all the skaly generation, from the Sea-horse to the Sea-mouse, Umpiresse of all differences in this watery region, &c: may a poore ship-wrackt Pothecarie speake to your Excellence?
** 1619, Tho[mas] Middleton, The Triumphs of Loue and Antiquity An honourable Solemnitie Performed Through the Citie, at the Confirmation and Establishment of the Right Honourable Sir William Cockayn, Knight, in the Office of His Maiesties Lieutenant, the Lord Maior of the Famous Citie of London. […], London: […] Nicholas Okes:This King feasted the Lord Maior, Richard Chawrye, and the Aldermen his Brethren, with certaine Commoners, in Waltham Forrest; after dinner rode a hunting with the King, who gaue him plenty of Venison, & sent to the Lady Maioresse, and her Sisters the Aldermens Wiues, 2.
** 1621, The Order of my Lord Maior, the Aldermen, and the Sheriffs, for Their Meetings, and Wearing of Their Apparell Throughout the Whole Yeere, [London]: […] W. Iaggard, page 18:[…]: and being Landed, rideth to the Guildhall to diuner, and all the Companies of this Citie with him: and at their coming into the hall, the new Lord Maior with ii. of the ancient Aldermen, M. Recorder, and the Sheriffes, go vp to my Lords table to bid them welcome, and likewise all the other guests there, and from thence to the Lady Maioresse table, and so come out to the Gentlewomens table, and to the Iudges, and so from thence my saide new Lord Maior goeth into the Chamberlaines office, where he dineth, and the olde Lord Maior at their first coming into the hall, goeth vp to the high table in the Hustings, and there keepeth the state for that feast.
*** 1629, The Order of My Lord Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Sheriffes for Their Meetings and Wearing of Their Apparrell Thoroughout the Whole Yeare, [London]: […] R. Young, pages 18–19:And being landed, rideth to the Guild-hall to dinner, and all the Companies of this City with him: and at their comming into the Hall, the new Lord Mayor, with two of the ancient Aldermen, master Recorder and the Sheriffs, goe vp to my Lords Table to bid them welcome; and likewise all the other guests there, and from thence to the Lady Maioresse Table, and so come out to the Gentlewomens Table, and to the Iudges, and so from thence my said new L. Mayor goeth into the Chamberlaines Office, where he dineth, and the olde Lord Maior at their first comming into the Hall, goeth vp to the high Table in the Hustings, and there keepeth the State for that Feast.
** 1631, Beniamin Iohnson, Bartholmew Fayre: a Comedie, Acted in the Yeare, 1614 by the Lady Elizabeths Seruants, and Then Dedicated to King Iames, of Most Blessed Memorie; The Diuell Is an Asse: a Comedie Acted in the Yeare, 1616, by His Maiesties Seruants; The Staple of Newes: a Comedie Acted in the Yeare, 1625, by His Maiesties Seruants, London: […] I.B. for Robert Allot, page 97:Hee may perchance, in taile of a Sheriffes dinner, / Skip with a rime o’the Table, from New-nothing, / And take his Almaine-leape into a custard, / Shall make my Lad Maioresse, and her sisters, / Laugh all their hoods ouer their shoulders.
** 1633, John Stow, A[nthony] M[unday], The Survey of London Containing the Original, Increase, Modern Estate and Government of That City, Methodically Set Down: […], London: […] Nicholas Bourn, page 657:At their comming into the Hall, the new Lord Maior, with two of the ancientest Aldermen, Master Recorder, and the Sheriffes, goe vp to the Lords Table to bid them welcome, as they doe the like to all the other guests, Lords, Ladies, and other. From thence they goe to the Lady Maioresse her Table, the Gentlewomens, and the Iudges; and then the said new Lord Maior (and they with him) goe into the Chamberlaines Office, where he dineth.
** 1639, [Jasper Mayne], The Citye Match A Comoedye. Presented to the King and Queene at White-Hall. Acted since at Black-Friers by His Maiesties Servants., Oxford: […] Leonard Lichfield, page 17:Marry a foole? in hope / To be a Lady Maioresse?
** 1642 December 23, A Declaration from the City of Bristoll by the Maior, Aldermen, Sheriffes and Others of the City Declaring Their Resolution and Fidelity to the Parliament and Their Designes: Also a Petition from M. Maioresse, M. Holworth and 200 of the Best Citizens Wives in Bristoll to the Maior and Common Councell of the City for Admitting the Parliaments Forces into Their City and Many Other Things Worthy of Observation, London: […] Joseph Matthewes, and John Nicolls, page 3:The well-affected women (some of the chiefest) as M. Maioresse, M. Holworth and others, to the number of 200 frame a Petition to this effect Humbly shewing, that if the Parliaments forces were opposed, the effusion of bloud would be great, in regard they were resolved to enter: […]
** 1656, [Samuel Holland], Wit and Fancy in a Maze. Or the Incomparable Champion of Love and Beautie. A Mock-Romance. Imbellished with Many Rare and Choyce Pieces of Drollery. And a Marginall Comment Expounding the Obscure Things of the History., London: […] T. W. for Tho. Vere, page 17:At length they reacht Joves Hall of bliſs, / The Gods ſat down, the f Goddeſſes / Were ſtriving for the Superiority, / Till g Juno challenging the Majority, / Ended the buſineſs (moſt demurely) / Plac’t and diſplac’t as pleas’d her ſurely; […] f The Aldermens wives. g Miſtris Maioreſſe.
** [1661, Thomas Wilson, John Bagwell, “A Prophetess”, in A Complete Christian Dictionary Wherein the Significations and Several Acceptations of All the Words Mentioned in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament Are Fully Opened, Expressed, Explained, London: […] E. Cotes:One which is the only Wife of a Prophet, as Isaiah his Wife. Isa. 8. 3. I went to the Prophetesse: as with us the Maiors Wife is usually called Maioresse: and in Germaey, a Doctors or Rectors wife is tearmed Doctoress and Rectoress.]
** 1661 April 29, William Smith, Of the Celebration of the King’s Coronation-Day, in the Famous City of Bathe. A True Narrative in the Letter Sent from Thence to Dr. Charleton, Physician to His Majestie., London, page 6:The Maior entred his house, whom Mrs. Maioresse followed with all her Maiden guards, to all whom was given Cake and Wine, drinking a Health to the King upon their Knees, which was begun by Mr Mayor and Mrs. Mayoress. After which the Mayor and his Company marched before the Souldiers through all the City, rendring Acclamations of Ioy. In like manner did Mrs. Mayoresse with her Female Royallists.
** 1664, John Tatham, Londons Triumphs Celebrated the 29th of October, 1664 in Honour to the Truely Deserver of Honour Sir Iohn Lawrence Knight, Lord Maior of the Honourable City of London, and Performed at the Costs and Charges of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, William Justice, Esq., Master, John King, Phillip Owen, Anthony Dowse, John Mascall, Wardens, London: […] W.G. for H. Brome, page 18:For ought we do know there’s ne’re a Lad here / But may be a Lord Maior or something as neer, / And his Maioresse may take from this Innocent Rout / And give her a hood in stead of a Clout: / Then cast up your Caps though Thrummed they be, / We shall be as finical one day as he.