In the days following the trial, Mr. Pickwick assures Mr. Perker that he will not pay damages to Mrs. Bardell. He will continue on with his life until he is dragged off to debtor’s prison, which Perker tells him may be in two months. Pickwick decides that he and the other Pickwickians will go to Bath.

The members of the Pickwick Club meet Mr. Dowler, who is accompanying them to Bath, along with his wife. At Bath, Mr. Dowler introduces his friend, Angelo Cyrus Bantam, to Pickwick. Bantam is the Grand Master of Ceremonies at Bath. The Pickwickians wander around Bath until that evening’s assembly. Sam meets a footman, who shows interest in Sam and hopes to meet him again.

A varied crowd attends the assembly that evening. Bantam points out to Pickwick some of the personages in the room. Pickwick is forced into playing cards with a group of ladies. At the end of a long evening, Pickwick and his companions retire for the night.

The members of the Pickwick Club rent the upper floor of a house for the two months they plan to be in Bath, and they are joined by Mr. and Mrs. Dowler. Pickwick “takes the waters,” declaring each time that he feels better than he ever has before. One late evening, Pickwick is working when he finds a story hidden in the desk drawer. It claims to tell the true story of Prince Bladud and the founding of the city of Bath: King Lud arranges a marriage for his son, Bladud, who has unfortunately fallen in love with the daughter of an Athenian nobleman. Bladud is imprisoned for his rebellion in this matter, but he manages to escape. He learns on his way that the Athenian lady whom he loved has married another. Grief-stricken, Prince Bladud wanders until he reaches the area where Bath is now located. He prays that the tears he sheds might flow in peace forever. The wish is granted, and thus the city of Bath is founded.

Mr. Dowler is waiting up for his wife to return from a party. He is the only person still awake in the house, and he grows weary and falls asleep. At three o’clock, Mrs. Dowler finally returns home, but no one hears her knocking. Mr. Winkle finally awakens and, still wearing only his nightgown, opens the door for her and steps out. However, the wind blows the door closed behind him, locking both him and Mrs. Dowler outside. Finally Mrs. Craddock hears the knocking and arouses Mr. Dowler. He discovers his wife and Winkle outside and assumes they are running away together.

Sam receives an invitation to a “swarry” (soiree) for noted footmen of Bath; Mr. John Smauker, the footman he had met previously, is hosting it. Sam’s vulgar manners, however, do not impress the other footmen.

The next morning, Pickwick informs Sam about the situation between Winkle and Dowler and says that Mr. Winkle has now disappeared. Pickwick sends Sam off to find and return Mr. Winkle.