The premise of the story is that Windsor lays quiet until Sir John Falstaff and his rowdy friends, Bardolph, Pistol and Nym arrive from the city of London to wreak havoc on the countryside.

Robert Shallow, a country justice, Abraham Slender, and George Page meet with Falstaff and his buddies at Page's estate over a hot feast to discuss their differences.

During the meal, Falstaff forgets about food and his mind turns to females. Mistress Page, has money. Her friend, Mistress Ford, is also rich. Both women rule the purse strings in their households. Ever short of money but long on schemes to get some, Falstaff later writes a love letter and makes a copy of it, then gets Pistol and Nym to take the letters to the two women. When Pistol and Nym refuse to do what they're asked, Falstaff gets a boy named Robin to deliver the letters. Falstaff then tells his friends Pistol and Nym to leave. Wanting revenge on Falstaff for being a jerk to them, the two decide to snitch on Falstaff to the women's husbands.

When Mistress Page and Mistress Ford meet again, they compare the letters and declare that Falstaff needs a lesson taught to him.

They first recruit Mistress Quickly, an expert at playing pranks. Mistress Quickly informs Falstaff that she requests that he come to Mistress Ford's house between ten and eleven one morning, when her husband is not at home.

Later, after Pistol and Nym rat Falstaff out, Mr. Page merely shrugs off their story and tells them that he trusts his wife.

Ford eventually becomes jealous though and meets with Falstaff, pretending his name is Brook. Brook offers to pay Falstaff to win Mistress Ford and Falstaff, is eager to accept the challenge especially if there is money involved, and there is. Falstaff then tells Brook that he has already made arrangements with Mistress Ford including the day and hour.

The merry wives, Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, have prepared their punishment for Falstaff. The scheme begins to unfold after Falstaff arrives at Mistress Ford's. She tells him she loves him and then they are interrupted by Mistress Page warning her that her husband is coming with other townsmen to catch her. Falstaff hides in a basket that is taken out and dumped in the mud. Mr. Ford arrives and searches his home to no avail. When the men have gone, the wives laugh over the coincidence. Finally Mistress Ford let her husband in on the plot against Falstaff. Ford apologizes to his wife for doubting her, and then they all agree to play one more prank on Falstaff.

After one last prank has been staged, including fairies and hobgoblins, Mistress Page then reveals the plot to Falstaff and everyone lives happily ever after.