King James V of Scotland

James V became King of Scotland as an infant in 1513 after his father fell at Flodden, and ruled in his own right from 1528 until his death in 1542. Tradition tells of his wandering among his subjects in disguise as the "Gudeman of Ballengeich".

Four comic poems have long been attributed to him: "Peblis to the Play", "Christis Kirk on the Grene", "The Gaberlunzieman" and "The Jolly Beggar". Eyre-Todd follows the traditional attribution; the authorship of all four is disputed.