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 3000_l._ _per annum_. Under him are three Deputies, a Secretary, and three Clerks; but these Clerks have no salaries; they have however considerable fees, and 30_l._ 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. PROVIDENCE _court_, North Audley street. PROVIDENCE _yard_, Peter street, Westminster. PRUJEAN’S _court_, in the Old Bailey.† PRUSON’S _island_, Near New Gravel lane.† PUDDING _lane_, Thames street. In this lane the fire of London broke out, at a house situated exactly at the same distance from the Monument as that is high. Upon this house, which is rebuilt in a very handsome manner, was set up by authority the following inscription: ‘Here by the permission of Heaven, Hell broke loose upon this protestant city, from the malicious hearts of barbarous papists, by the hand of their agent HUBERT: who confessed, and on the ruins of this place declared his fact, for which he was hanged, viz. That here began the dreadful fire, which is described and perpetuated, on and by the neighbouring pillar, erected 1681—in the mayoralty of Sir Patience Ward, Knt.’ But the inhabitants being incommoded by the many people who came to look at the house, and read this board, it was taken down a few years ago. PUDDLE _dock_, Thames street. There was anciently a descent into the Thames in this place, where horses used to be watered; who raising the mud with their feet, made the place like a puddle; from this circumstance, and from a person named Puddle dwelling there, this dock, according to Maitland, obtained its present name. PUDDLE DOCK _hill_, Great Carter lane. PUDDLE DOCK _stairs_, Puddle dock. PULTNEY _court_, Little Windmill street. PULTNEY _street_, 1. Brewer’s street.† 2. Knave’s Acre.†