A modern parallel to the Spartan practice of electing the divine Lycurgus as eponymous Patronomus is to be found in Cramond's Records of Elgin, vol. i, p. 91 (New Spalding Club, 1903), under date October 3rd, 1547, in the Burgh Court Book.

‘The qlk (i.e. quhilk, which) day the haill communate has electit and menit Sanct Geill thair patroun provest for ane zeyr nyxt to cum.’ As the note by Cramond says, the council for the year consisted of the patron saint, four bailies, and only eight other councillors. The disastrous battle of Pinkie had been fought against the Protector Somerset on September 10th preceding, and the Elgin contingent had suffered severely.