Notes on the notes:

2. frets: (1) complains; (2) frays; i.e., chafes, with pun on another meaning on the word applying to velvet with the nap awry. gummed: stiffened with gum.

3. close: concealed.

6. keep: keep up.

12. squier: square, foot rule, as in "carpenter's square." —Falstaff's point is that he can't walk even an inch farther than four feet without hurting himself.

14. for: despite.

18. medicines: love potions.

23. turn true man: turn honest man; also, turn informer.

37. colt: trick, cheat.

39. uncolted: i.e., deprived of your horse.

43-44. heir-apparent garters: An allusion to the Order of the Garter, in which the Prince, as heir apparent, had been installed as a knight.

44. peach: inform on you, turn informer.

47. is so forward: goes so far.

50. setter: planner of the robbery; i.e., Gadshill.

53. Case ye: mask yourselves, put on your disguises.

58. make us all: i.e., make our fortunes.

67. John of Gaunt: A punning allusion to Hal's thinness.

69. proof: test.

76. happy man be his dole: i.e., may each man be fortunate; good luck to you. —"Dole" is that which is dealt out by fate or chance.

84. caterpillars: parasites; those who thrive off the commonwealth.

88. gorbellied: potbellied.

89. chuffs: churls, rich but miserly; misers. your store: total wealth; all your possessions.

90. bacons: swine; i.e., fat men.

91. grandjurors: i.e., affluent citizens (eligible for jury duty).

93. true: honest.

95. argument: topic of conversation.

100. equity: judgment, discrimination; variously interpreted.

109. lards of the lean earth: an allusion to the practice on the part of butchers of inserting fat into lean meat (lards = bastes).