Fenton comes to the Garter Inn to speak with the Host. Fenton tells the Host that he will give him gold – more than enough to cover the loss of his horses – if the Host will assist him in his plans to elope with Anne Page.
Fenton then explains how Master Page plans to have Slender elope with Anne Page and that Slender will recognize her in her disguise as a fairy because she will be dressed all in white. Fenton also explains that Mistress Page wants Doctor Caius to elope with Anne, and therefore the mother has asked Anne to disguise herself entirely in green. But Anne plans to deceive both of her parents, and she will be wearing neither white nor green when she is disguised as a fairy. Rather, Anne Page plans to elope with Fenton.
The Host agrees to help the young lover and tells him, “Husband your device” (51). The word husband is a pun here, for during the Renaissance the word also means to manage well. And the word device is used for scheme or plan. Thus, the Host is telling Fenton to carry out his plan, and the Host promises to bring a priest to perform the wedding ceremony.