You are looking at the HTML representation of the XML format.
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.
See the complete documentation, or API help for more information. 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query>
    <search>
      <p ns="0" title="Chronology" snippet="...h, when the rebels are rapidly advancing, and then we shall understand the &lt;span class=&#039;searchmatch&#039;&gt;meaning&lt;/span&gt; of this&#10;" size="169762" wordcount="28207" timestamp="2022-10-24T15:43:08Z" />
      <p ns="0" title="Aldermen of Kendal" snippet="...y Lonsdale. This historical fact explains the following popular rhyme, the &lt;span class=&#039;searchmatch&#039;&gt;meaning&lt;/span&gt; of which is, at this day, not generally understood : &#10;" size="62620" wordcount="8765" timestamp="2025-02-17T19:17:54Z" />
      <p ns="0" title="Branthwaite Brow" snippet="Branthwaite Brow was called Branthwaite Lane until 1853, with &#039;&#039;brant&#039;&#039; &lt;span class=&#039;searchmatch&#039;&gt;meaning&lt;/span&gt; “steep” and &#039;&#039;thwaite&#039;&#039; “clearing”. The lane was cobbled to give be&#10;" size="2379" wordcount="384" timestamp="2019-10-14T00:13:57Z" />
    </search>
  </query>
</api>