In 2 Henry IV Prince Hal assigns a page (unnamed) to wait on Falstaff. The knight suspects (and perhaps rightly so) that the Prince has purposely set the page to vex him (I, ii: 13-14), and so Falstaff decides to get back at the page by dressing him in “vile apparel” (I, ii: 19). Later, when Prince Hal sees the page so attired, he describes the transformation of the page as becoming that of an “ape” (II, ii: 72). However, when the Page responds to Poins and displays more than a fair share of wit despite his young years, Prince Hal feels compelled to respond, “Has not the boy profited?” (II, ii: 84). That is, the page has profited from listening to the witty repartee of Falstaff. Of course, one can only conjecture what exactly the “vile apparel” actually consisted of. Rags would most likely be a good guess. Yet, motley would be a more suitable choice. Unfortunately, the character of the page is not developed to any large extent; but these lines could suggest that the time has come for a new Jester to take over; and indeed the page is a Clever Servant that could have quite easily turned the tables on his master (Falstaff) had this play been a comedy rather than a history.
Falstaff’s change to Impostor is also noted early in the play by the plain-spoken and not-so-witty Chief Justice. When Falstaff contrasts his being young to the Justice being old, the Justice cannot hold back his indignation and cleverly describes the
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