A man named Thomas Walsingham writes to Queen Elizabeth that the atheist man named Christopher Marlowe has been pronounced dead. Walsingham lists the names of four men who are claimed witnesses to Marlowe's death: Nicholas Kyrse, Ingram Frizer, Ephraim Cudworth, and Robert Poley. He then lists the six pieces of evidence of Marlowe's atheism. Walsingham details a report from Skeres and Poley of the three days leading up to Marlowe's death. The incident seems to have occurred at a tavern, and Marlowe died of allegedly accidental knife wounds following a drunken quarrel. Walsingham also lists the names of documents found in Marlowe's rooms after his death. However, Thomas would like to keep the last record as he had written it himself about Christopher and his lover Mary. 

Next, the man relays Christopher Marlowe's journal, describing Marlowe's speculation of having offended Thomas with "some silly joke of Moses and Aaron." Marlowe describes something about Thomas that is unsettling and that he finds "almost ruthless." He also notes how a strange man is following him in the morning, and he sees the man again that evening before he departs for Deptford. 

After relaying these journal entries, Walsingham continues to inform that Marlowe had reached Deptford at half past nine, entered the tavern, and sat next to Cudworth. Ingram Frizer was also present. Getting influenced by the mugs of ale, Marlowe blurted out his ideas about divinity and how God is an "imagining for love." Frizer becomes furious and lurches at Marlowe with his knife, stabbing twice and stumbling away to see Marlowe's own sword pierced through his stomach.