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HTML is good for debugging, but is unsuitable for application use.
Specify the format parameter to change the output format.
To see the non HTML representation of the XML format, set format=xml.
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query-continue>
    <allpages gapcontinue="Read,_Katharine" />
  </query-continue>
  <query>
    <pages>
      <page pageid="123" ns="0" title="Read, James">
        <revisions>
          <rev contentformat="text/x-wiki" contentmodel="wikitext" xml:space="preserve">{{Template2
|Dates=1712
|Location=London
|Vocation=Mariner
|Place of Birth=Leith
|Marriage=Jane Blow
|Source=TNA Prob 11/528/344
}}
Identified his wife as being from Leith. Will proven in London.</rev>
        </revisions>
      </page>
      <page pageid="772" ns="0" title="Read, John">
        <revisions>
          <rev contentformat="text/x-wiki" contentmodel="wikitext" xml:space="preserve">{{Template2
|Dates=1740
|Location=Westmorland
|Place of Birth=Carrington
|Marriage=Betteress
|Issue=2 unnamed children
|Source=Kendal Archive Centre, Westmorland Quarter Session Rolls, WQ/SR/124/10
}}
Examined for settlement at Kendal, 27 August 1740.</rev>
        </revisions>
      </page>
    </pages>
  </query>
</api>