In the first year of King Richard I., the citizens of London obtained to be governed by two bailiffs, which bailiffs are in divers ancient deeds called sheriffs, according to the speech of the law, which called the shire Balliva, for that they, like as the portgraves, used the same office of shrivewicke, for the which the city paid to fee farm three hundred pounds yearly as before, since the reign of Henry I., which also is yet paid by the city into the Exchequer until this day.
They also obtained to have a mayor, to be their principal governor and lieutenant of the city, as of the king’s chamber.
1180. The names of the first bailiffs, or officers, entering into their office at the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, in the year of Christ 1189, were named Henry Cornhill and Richard Reynere, bailiffs or sheriffs.
Their first mayor was Henry Fitz Alwin Fitz Liefstane, goldsmith, appointed by the said king, and continued mayor from the 1st of Richard I. until the 15th of King John, which was twenty-four years and more.
1190. The 2nd of Richard I., sheriffs, John Herlion, Roger Duke; mayor, Henry Fitz Alwin.
1191. The 3rd, sheriffs, William Haverill, John Bucknote; mayor, Henry Fitz Alwin.
1192. The 4th, Nicholas Duke, Peter Newlay; mayor, Henry Fitz Alwin.
1193. The 5th, Roger Duke, Richard Fitz Alwin; mayor, Henry Fitz Alwin.
1194. The 6th, William Fitz Isabel, William Fitz Arnold; mayor, Henry Fitz Alwin.
1195. The 7th, Robert Besaunt, John de Josue; mayor, Henry Fitz Alwin.