Pritchard’s alley, Fair street, Horselydown.†
Privy Council, held at the Cockpit. This great and honourable assembly meet in order to consult upon those measures that are most likely to contribute to the honour, defence, safety and benefit of his Majesty’s dominions.
The members of this body are chosen by the King, and are, or ought to be distinguished by their wisdom, courage, integrity, and political knowledge. A Privy Counsellor, though but a Gentleman, has precedence of all Knights, Baronets, and the younger sons of all Barons and Viscounts. They sit at the council board bareheaded, when his Majesty presides; at all debates the lowest delivers his opinion first; and the King last of all declares his judgment, and thereby determines the matter in debate.
Privy Garden, Whitehall, was formerly used as a private garden, though it extended almost to the Cockpit. The wall joined the arch still standing by the Cockpit, and ran on in a line to King street. Plan of London drawn in Queen Elizabeth’s time.
Privy Garden stairs, Privy Garden.
Privy Seal Office, Whitehall. An office under the government of the Lord Privy Seal, a great officer, next in dignity to the Lord President of the Council, who keeps the King’s privy seal, which is set to such grants as pass the great seal of England. The Lord Privy Seal has a salary of 3000l. per annum. Under him are three Deputies, a Secretary, and three Clerks; but these Clerks have no salaries; they have however considerable fees, and 30l. a year board wages.
Probin’s yard, Blackman street, Southwark.†
Protonotaries, or Prothonotaries, in the court of Common Pleas. The word is derived from Protonotarius, a chief Notary or Clerk; and they are accordingly the chief Clerks of this court. They enter and enrol all declarations, pleadings, assizes, judgments, and actions; and make out judicial writs, &c. for all English counties, except Monmouth. They are three in number, and have each separate offices, one in the Middle Temple, another in King’s Bench Walks, and the other in Searle’s court, Lincoln’s Inn. In these offices all the Attorneys of the court of Common Pleas enter their causes.
Each of these Protonotaries has a Secondary, whose office is, to draw up the rules of court, and these were formerly the ancientest and ablest Clerks or Attorneys of the court.
Protonotary’s, or Prothonotary’s Office in Chancery, is kept in Middle Temple lane, and is chiefly to expedite commissions for embassies.