prothonotary

A chief legal clerk or notary in Roman Byzantium, and (hence) in Rome.

One of the seven prelates, constituting a college in the Roman Curia, whose office is to register pontifical acts and to make and preserve the official record of beatifications.

A registrar or chief clerk in various courts of law, especially (US) in a county court, (Australia) in certain state Supreme Courts, (Canada) in Federal Court.

I accordingly did direct him how to enter an appearance with the prothonotary and to obtain a copy of the plaint or declaration.

Prothonotary was a pretty impressive-sounding title for a clerk of court, but that’s how the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania rolled.

The chief secretary of the patriarch of Constantinople.