Margery is at home, fretting about the recent business dealings that have made her husband a wealthy man. She tells Firk to go to the guildhall and learn whether Eyre has been appointed as sheriff, the latest “worshipful vocation” (10.4-5) that he has taken upon himself. 

In the meantime, she speaks to Hodge and Lacy (who is still in disguise as Hans) about recent events. She jokes about the fashionable clothes that she must now wear as the wife of a wealthy man. Ralph interrupts their conversation, having returned home from the war. He has a number of scars and walks with a limp. Hodge welcomes Ralph back, though Margery can barely recognize him. Ralph is only interested in Jane. He asks for her whereabouts. Margery says that she has not seen much of Jane since Ralph’s departure, claiming that Jane seemed to have taken on a more “stately” (10.79) demeanor in recent times. Following a quarrel, Jane and Margery have not been on good terms. She is still in London, Hodge believes. He offers to help Ralph “ferret her out” (10.95).

Firk returns with news that Simon Eyre is now sheriff of London. He recounts the event at the guildhall, referring to Margery as “Mistress Shrieve.” This new title amuses Margery, who gives Firk a coin. Eyre returns, adding further excitement with his elaborate gold chain of office. He promises that his “fine men” (10.132) will receive their own rewards, since their shared profession has led to his elevated status. Putting a French hood on his wife, he names her “a lady.” Then, remembering that he has been invited to dine with the Lord Mayor, he tells the others to prepare a Morris dance to honor the Gentle Craft of shoemaking. He leaves with his wife to attend the feast.

The Lord Mayor graciously welcomes Eyre and Margery to Old Ford. Eyre, in his loud and charismatic style, makes jokes to the audience of attendants and Rose, promising that he will only be serious when he is required to be. 

This amuses Oatley, who then complains about the paucity of suitors for his daughter. He fears that she wants to marry a noble person of decent rank rather than a “proper gentleman of fair revenues / whom gladly [Oatley] would call son-in-law” (11.32-33). Eyre agrees with his comments, suggesting Rose needs to abandon her pursuit of courtly but vapid men. As a tradesman, he claims, he has a better life than such people. 

Music plays and Eyre introduces his band of shoemakers, including the disguised Lacy. They perform a Morris dance, much to Oatley’s delight. Oatley and Eyre buy drinks for the dancers. 

Meanwhile, Rose recognizes her disguised lover. Lacy, too, spots Rose, but remains in the role of Hans. Rose speaks to him, hinting that she knows his true identity. Oatley departs, heading to London on “urgent business” (11.64), giving Rose the opportunity to tell Sybil what she has learned. Sybil agrees to organize a meeting between Rose and Lacy, possibly even arranging for them to wed. Rose is grateful. She and Sybil travel with the Lord Mayor to London.

Outside the shop where Jane works, Master Hammon considers his options. He has tried—unsuccessfully thus far—to win Jane’s affections and he fears that “nobody loves [him]” (12.7). Still thinking of Ralph, Jane has consistently refused him. 

Pretending to be another customer in need of a seamstress, Hammon enters the shop and begins to discuss products. Eventually, however, he begins to declare his affections for Jane, who politely accepts his praise while continuing to work. Hammon insists that he is serious about loving her and that she is “too coy” (12.36). He wants to marry Jane, he says, but she responds that she is still married to Ralph. He may be far away, but she still loves him. 

Hammon produces a letter that, he claims, contains a list of the soldiers “slain” (12.86) in France. He says that Ralph’s name is on the list. Jane reads the list for herself. Believing it to be real, she breaks down with grief. Hammon attempts to comfort Jane by suggesting that she should “love them that are alive” (12.101). Jane insists that she wants to remain loyal to the memory of Ralph. Hammon continues to pressure Jane, who eventually announces that—though she “desires to be alone” (12.120)—she will only marry Hammon if she does remarry. While Hammon sees this as an encouraging development, Jane weeps for her seemingly dead husband.

The shoemakers work. They share jokes and songs at their benches as Hodge wants them to make up for the work they missed the previous day. Firk tries to cheer the workers with jokes, including recollections of the time at Old Ford. They joke about Rose approaching Hans (since they do not know his true identity) and offering him a drink. They discuss which of the aldermen are sick or dead, a thinning of the authorities that could elevate Simon Eyre even higher. He may even be the next Lord Mayor. 

Sybil enters, speaking enthusiastically to the workers as she seeks information about Hans. Her “young mistress” (13.52) is in need of a new pair of shoes, and she has ordered some from Hans. Lacy understands her implication and agrees to speak to Sybil as the other workers go for a meal.

A servant appears at the shop with an order: A woman is set to marry Master Hammon, so she will require a new pair of shoes. The shoes must be made for the wedding, which will take place the next day at St. Faith’s church. Ralph agrees to make the shoes but, when he is handed the sample shoe to use as a template, he instantly recognizes it as “the very shoe [he] gave [his] wife” (14.34). He is sure that the mystery bride is his own wife and he makes plans to prevent the wedding from taking place. 

Firk returns and Ralph tells him what has happened. Ralph hopes that the other shoemakers will go to the church with him and the “lusty crew of honest shoemakers” (14.60) will stop the wedding if he recognizes Jane as the bride.