In act 1, scene 1 of Henry IV, Part I, King Henry compares his young son, Hal, to Sir Henry Percy, known as Hotspur, much to the advantage of the latter. Although Percy was more than twenty years older than Prince Hal, Shakespeare represents the two as being approximately the same age. The king wishes that the two had been exchanged in their cradles as children so that he would have a valiant, noble son, "the theme of honour's tongue," rather than one marred by "riot and dishonour."

In act 4, scene 1, Hotspur is similarly dismissive of the "nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales." However, Vernon is much more impressed with the martial appearance of Prince Hal, who seems like a formidable opponent to him, even though he concentrates on the brilliance of his armor and equipment. Hotspur is irritated and unimpressed by this praise and wants only to encounter the prince in battle. He has the same reaction to Vernon's praise of the prince in act 5, scene 2.

At this point, Vernon describes how nobly and modestly Prince Hal issued his challenge against Hotspur, praising his opponent generously. Again, Hotspur dismisses the prince's fine words, like his fine armor, as mere ostentation and wants only to move as hastily as possible to the serious business of fighting. For the audience, however, Vernon's report already shows that the drunken young prince who spent his time carousing with Falstaff is well on the way to becoming the great military leader King Henry V.