In the palace in Westminster, the Lord Chief Justice meets with Warwick and the younger princes. King Henry IV is now dead, and, by the law, Prince Hal will become king. Knowing only about Hal’s debauched reputation, many people are frightened. The Lord Chief Justice is pessimistic about the future of the country if Hal becomes king. He has criticized Hal in the past, so he fully expects to be treated badly by the new king, who “loves [him] not” (V.2.9). He was also responsible for arresting and jailing Hal in the past, and he considers himself to be the chief antagonist for criminals such as Falstaff. The princes tell the Lord Chief Justice that he should find Falstaff and flatter him, but the Justice insists that he will not compromise his morals due to the change in situation.

Prince Hal appears, dressed in the king’s “new and gorgeous garment” (V.2.44): He is now King Henry V. He speaks to his brothers and to the royal court, announcing that they have no reason to fear him. They will not suffer under his rule, he says. Noticing the strange looks from his audience, he notes the “great indignities” that some have subjected him to, particularly the Lord Chief Justice. They rebuked and punished him, even though he was a prince. The Lord Chief Justice defends his actions as in accordance with the law, claiming that he was acting on the old king’s orders. The Justice implores the new king to imagine what he might do in a similar scenario.

King Henry V shocks everyone by agreeing with the Lord Chief Justice. He praises the wisdom of the Justice and thanks the Justice for punishing him when he was a wayward young man. The Justice was right to do so, he claims. Not only will the Lord Chief Justice keep his new job, but he is also offered the role of advisor to the king, who is now in need of a father figure to guide him. King Henry V wants to learn how to rule honorably and justly to help his own sons grow up well whenever they are born. He wants to make England “the best-governed nation” so that no one will have cause to criticize or threaten him (V.2.136).

Falstaff is still in Gloucestershire. He dines with Shallow and Silence, eating well at their table. Bardolph, Davy, and Falstaff’s page are also present, celebrating with food, drink, and laughter. When Silence drinks, Falstaff is surprised to learn, he becomes distinctly more open and amiable. As he becomes drunk, he becomes noisy and even begins to sing songs. Falstaff shares his approval of Silence’s merriment, to which Silence replies that he has been happy at least three times in his life.

Ancient Pistol arrives with news from court. Amid his confusing, dramatic speech, the characters gradually learn that the old king is as dead “as nail in door” and that Prince Hal has taken the throne (V.3.119). Assuming that the coronation of King Henry V will lead to Falstaff being celebrated and elevated by his old drinking partner, the characters rejoice. Falstaff shares the same belief and promises to dole out positions to everyone present. He calls for his horse to be fetched. Together with Ancient Pistol, Bardolph, and Shallow, he will ride through the night to reach London and speak to his old friend, who is now the king. Silence, now seemingly drunk, is carried away to bed.

In London, two minor officers of the law (referred to as beadles) drag Doll Tearsheet and Mistress Quickly through the streets. The two women loudly complain about the rough treatment, unleashing a string of insults at the beadles, who are almost taken aback by the strength of their words. They nearly let go of the women but maintain their grip. Ancient Pistol, the beadles reveal, attacked and killed a man in their company, so the women are being taken to jail to await their punishment. Doll Tearsheet claims to be pregnant, hoping that this will result in clemency, but one of the officers dismisses her claims as lies. He points to the padding she has stuffed in her clothes to appear like a pregnancy. Mistress Quickly wishes that Falstaff could save them, but the two women are dragged away to be sentenced by a justice.

King Henry V and his attendants return from the coronation in Westminster Abbey. Having ridden through the night, Falstaff and his entourage wait on the street for the king to pass. They hope for the king to greet his old friend, Falstaff, who is eagerly awaiting the attention he will receive from King Henry V and the crowd.

As the king passes, Falstaff calls out. He refers to the king by his familiar name, “Hal.” Initially, the king ignores Falstaff. Then, he claims not to know his old friend but says that he half remembers a dream that featured a foolish “old man” who looked somewhat similar to Falstaff. Now that he has woken up, however, he dislikes this figure. King Henry V claims that he is no longer the same man as he was in his youth. He has “turned away from [his] former self” (V.5.57), he says, and he plans to distance himself from the people who surrounded him when he was a younger man. No one from those days will be permitted within 10 miles of the king, he decrees. The king closes his speech by assuring Falstaff (and his friends) that they will be taken care of. They will receive an income commensurate with their service in the war, partly to ensure that they do not fall back into their villainous ways. In spite of this, they will not be allowed near the king again until they change their ways and become respectable people. With that, the king finishes his speech and proceeds along the street without turning back.

Falstaff is shocked and confused. In spite of what has happened, he retains some hope that his old friend has not abandoned him. He tells the others that Hal will have been forced to act in this manner in front of the public, publicly disavowing men like Falstaff because he must think of his reputation. Falstaff insists that the king will call for him eventually and that they will meet privately. When the Lord Chief Justice returns, however, this faint hope is crushed. The Justice, together with Prince John and a group of police officers, announces that they have been ordered to take Falstaff and his associates to prison, where they will be held until they can be sent out of London. Before he can say anything, Falstaff is silenced and taken away.

Prince John and the Lord Chief Justice are left together. The prince praises his brother for handling Falstaff and the others by offering them an income but ensuring that they remain well away from London. The king has called parliament, the prince says, and he is expected to announce an imminent invasion of France. The Lord Chief Justice agrees with the prince as they make their way to court.

In a short Epilogue, an unnamed figure appears to “beg [the audience’s] pardons” (V.Epilogue.3). The figure asks the audience to applaud anyway, issues a prayer for Queen Elizabeth, and assures the audience that a sequel will follow and that it will feature the return of not only Falstaff—who will “die of a sweat” (V.Epilogue.29)—but also the introduction of the renowned Katherine of France.