Scene i: The setting shifts back again to a tavern in Rochester. At this inn are two couriers responsible for transporting a large sum of money, and Gadshill, a professional highwayman. Gadshill learns about the booty, the robbery plot advances and Gadshill says in an aside that he has a friend in high places, Sir John Falstaff, who can get the robbers off the hook if they are caught.

     Scene ii: This plot proceeds on a highway near Gad's Hill. Hal and Poins set up the trick that they plan to play on Falstaff. The couriers are robbed, but when Hal and Poins appear in disguise, as they had anticipated, a frightened Falstaff hands over the purses to them in short order.

     Scene iii: The main story line returns to the brewing rebellion against Henry IV, the setting being the ancestral home of the Percy family. Hotspur reads a letter from a nobleman who refuses to take part in the revolt and is angered by it. His wife, Lady Percy, enters and says that she is concerned about her husband's complete preoccupation with warfare, noting that he even speaks about battles in his sleep. She asks Hotspur to tell her what he is planning. He playfully refuses, saying that they are military secrets.

     Scene iv: Returning to the lower world of the play, the setting is now the "infamous" Boar's Head Tavern. Prince Hal engages in lively banter with the inn's denizens, as the contrast between the easy-going Hal and the intensely-focused Hotspur is mentioned by the waiter Frances. Falstaff arrives in a huff with a tale of being robbed by a host of brigands after putting up a furious defense. Hal is amused by Falstaff's report, plays the joke out, and then reveals the actual details of the second robbery, including Falstaff's fleeing the scene at the first arrival of the disguised Hal and Poins. But into this world of merriment a message arrives from the play's "upper" level: Henry IV summons his son to court because a full-scale rebellion led by Hotspur has broken out. For his part, Falstaff suggests that Hal practice his responses to the King's expected reprimands, and the two engage in a lively rehearsal: Falstaff first assumes the role of Hal's father, then they reverse parts, Hal acting as the King and Falstaff as Hal. This allows Hal to effectively criticize his own behavior along with that of Falstaff and the tavern crew, while Falstaff (as Hal) comically defends his own reputation. A sheriff arrives investigating the robbery of the couriers. Hal tells the Sheriff that the thief is gone (as Falstaff hides), and personally guarantees that the stolen funds will be returned to their rightful owners. When the Sheriff departs, Hal finds Falstaff asleep in his hiding place. Hal then prepares to go to war against the rebels, taking the "fat rogue" Falstaff with him into the fray.

Act III

     Scene i: At the rebel Owen Glendower's castle in Wales, the leaders of the revolt against Henry IV meet and a disagreement breaks out between Glendower and Hotspur over how the kingdom will be divided among them once Henry IV has been overthrown. Glendower eventually gives in, but after he leaves, Worcester and Mortimer criticize Hotspur for putting their grand alliance in jeopardy. A touching domestic episode occurs as Mortimer's wife appears and her husband laments that she cannot speak English while he cannot speak Welsh. Glendower acts the part of interpreter in a fond exchange between Mortimer and his Welsh spouse. Hotspur looks on and makes jests about this marital bliss to his own wife. After Lady Mortimer sings a song in Welsh, Hotspur urges his own "Kate," (Lady Percy) to follow suit, but she refuses. With this jovial exchange over, Hotspur, Mortimer and Glendower prepare to take the field on horse immediately.

     Scene ii: Back at Henry IV's court, the king and the prince appear on stage together and the father scolds his son for wanton ways, suggesting that Hal is not worthy to face the challenges that lie ahead. Hal tells his father that he regrets his debauchery with Falstaff and the vulgarians of the tavern and is now ready to meet Hotspur in combat. A report from the field arrives: the rebels have assembled their forces at Shrewsbury. Henry IV plans his campaign against them, placing command of one of his armies under Hal, the Prince of Wales.

     Scene iii: Returning to the Boar's Head, we find Falstaff holding court. He admits that he has been a scoundrel but praises the bawdy life with his next breath. Falstaff makes jokes about Bardolph and then engages in an exchange of insults with the hostess of the tavern. Hal enters and announces that the battle against the rebels is at hand. He orders Falstaff to meet him the next day. For his part, Falstaff merely continues to gorge himself and complains that he cannot play his part in the war from within the familiar confines of the tavern.

Act IV

     Scene i: At their camp near Shrewsbury, Hotspur, Worcester and their comrade, the fierce Scottish Lord Douglas, receive bad news. Hotspur's father, Northumberland, is ill and will not bring his forces into the coming battle. More bad new comes with a messenger who says that Glendower's troops cannot join the war in time, while the king has assembled a very large army nearby. Their plans upset, Hotspur and Douglas are still prepared to do battle, even though their forces are outnumbered. Hotspur declares that "Doomsday is near, die all, die merrily," but Douglas urges him to not speak of dying and defeat but of victory.

     Scene ii: On the road to the Battle of Shrewsbury, Falstaff tells the audience about the money he has made by selling exemptions from conscription into Henry IV's army. He is met by Hal and the loyal lord Westmoreland. Hal orders Falstaff to the battle front, but when his superiors leave, Falstaff tells us that he plans to arrive on the scene just as the fighting is at an end.

     Scene iii: At the rebel camp, Hotspur and Douglas want to attack King Henry's troops immediately, but Worcester and Vernon, being more mature in outlook, argue for waiting until the rebels are reinforced. A lord from King Henry's side, Sir Walter Blunt, appears with an offer to negotiate peace. Hotspur seems to reject this overture offhand by railing against the King for his part in killing Richard II and his ingratitude to the Percy family for their support. Nevertheless, the young Percy agrees to a peace talk between the King and the rebel's representative, his uncle Worcester, before the battle takes place.

     Scene iv: In a very brief scene, the Archbishop of York, who has been leaning toward the rebel side, now sees that they will be defeated at Shrewsbury and prepares to justify his passive support of the rebellion to a victorious Henry IV.

Act V

     Scene i: At the King's camp near Shrewsbury, the rebels are represented by Worcester and Vernon. They try to justify the insurrection as the result of rightful grievances; Hal offers to resolve all issues in single combat with Hotspur; Henry IV offers to grant amnesty to the revels and return to the status quo. When Worcester and Vernon leave with this amnesty offer, Hal and Falstaff take up the stage. "Sir Jack" pleads with Hal to protect him during the battle; Hal replies that he will not do this and that Falstaff must now stand on his own. Considering this, when Hal exits, Falstaff announces his intention to avoid conflict at all costs saying that "honour" cannot "set a broken leg."

     Scene ii: Set on a plain near the rebel camp, Worcester discloses to Vernon that he will not tell Hotspur about King Henry's amnesty offer. He fears that Hotspur would agree, that the King would spare him (and Douglas) for his rash youth but that Henry would also punish Worcester and Vernon as "elders" who are responsible for the rebellion. Worcester, in fact, tells Hotspur, Douglas and the other rebels that Henry IV has decided to fight. He also tries to egg his nephew on by relaying Hal's offer to fight Hotspur in single combat in (falsely) insulting terms. Hotspur boldly declares that he is fully prepared for the battle ahead.

     Scene iii: Now on the battlefield itself, Sir Walter Blunt is mistaken for King Henry by Douglas and slain by the Scottish rebel. Hal again meets Falstaff, who gives him a characteristically false report of his bravery in battle. But rummaging through Falstaff's gear, Hal finds a bottle of wine in Falstaff's pistol holder.

     Scene iv: King Henry says that the battle will be won and that Hal and another of his sons, Prince John of Lancaster, should leave the the field. They both refuse and Hal praises his younger brother's courageous spirit. The rebel Douglas enters, fights with the King and nearly kills him, but Hal intervenes and Douglas flees. The King leaves and Hotspur appears, challenging Hal to combat as Falstaff looks on. The climax of the action comes in the showdown between Hal and Hotspur, with the rebel leader saying, "the hour is come/To end the one of us, and would to God/Thy name in arms were now as great as mine!" (V, iv, ll.68-70). Hal kills his rival and then praises the fallen Hotspur's heroic spirit. Hal then sees Falstaff lying "dead" on the ground and says a short prayer for him. After Hal leaves, however, Falstaff arises from this feigned death and announces that he will try to take credit for the slaying Hotspur. Hal and his brother reappear and are surprised by Falstaff's miraculous resurrection. Falstaff claims that he is the victor over Hotspur and that King Henry IV should reward him; Hal says that he will play along with Falstaff's story.

     Scene v: At his command post, Henry IV orders the execution of Vernon and Worcester but Hal spares the life of the youthful Douglas. The play ends as Hal instructs Prince John to bring this news to Douglas and the king vows to pursue the rest of those who have rebelled against him in Henry IV: Part 2.