Meanwhile, the rebels show themselves to be having difficulties. Glendower is delayed and the Earl of Northumberland withdraws due to an illness. Despite these setbacks, Hotspur decides to fight on.

Falstaff continues to bumble along, having taken bribes from recruits eager not to serve and filled his ranks with beggars and criminals. Hal and Westmoreland overtake him on the road and urge him to hurry.

At the rebels' camp, Sir Walter Blunt arrives and announces that the king is willing to hear their grievances. Hotspur denounces the king but agrees to send a party to parley the next day.

In the meantime, in a scene at the Archbishop of York's house, the frantic archbishop, a supporter of the rebels, fears that he will be next on the list to be attacked should Hotspur be defeated and sends out letters to friends and family asking for help.

Worcester and Vernon arrive at the king's camp. The king reiterates his promise of pardon to the rebels if they will lay down their arms. When Worcester and Vernon return to camp, however, they lie to Hotspur about the king's offer, telling him that he is prepared only to fight. Both sides prepare for battle.

When Hal notices Falstaff on the ground, he laments his death and departs. While he is gone, Falstaff gets up, stabs the dead body of Hotspur in the thigh, and lifts it up onto his back. Prince John and Hal enter and are shocked to see Falstaff, who concocts a story about how he killed Hotspur. Happy to see his friend alive, Hal lets the lie pass.

The rebels have by now been defeated and their leaders captured. Worcester and Vernon are sentenced to death, while Douglas is set free at Hal's request. The king prepares his army to deal with the remaining opposition to the crown. In this way, the play ends with the victory of the titular hero, Henry IV.

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