The letter is as follows:
_"Father,
I humbly beg your blessing, and God's also. Forgive me, good father, and my mother my dear mother, accept this my last request; that after my death you will cause my maids to be preferred according to their conditions. They have been my faithful companions this long time, therefore remember them for my sake.
Dear father, I must and now will write to you a few lines, although the time be very short. I have sent you divers writings but whether any of them shall come to your hands I cannot tell. In all them, I have declared unto you my state, which now is this — that after long and great troubles and vexations suffered in prison, through the tyranny of mine enemies, it is God's will to suffer me to end this wretched life. I am here in the Tower an hour since come from the scaffold. I have but little time to write, the bearer waits. Good father my desire now is that you shall only rejoice at my death. And that you will not mourn because I am out of this wicked world, and from those that so cruelly thirst for my blood. Remember that it is the ordinance of God, against whose will or appointment no flesh can prevail, and that the hour of death being once past, all pains do cease, and an everlasting glory doth succeed, which all the pleasures and joys in this world, if there were millions of millions of worlds above this miserable earth, cannot be compared to.
Good father, as you have found great comfort in God, so I hope assuredly that he will be present with you in all troubles as he hath been with me. Good father, as I have obeyed you in all things from my infancy unto this hour, so now let me obey you in this request — that for my sake you will forgive all those which have by false tales brought me unto my end, and forgive all my enemies. And God knoweth that, except the realm, I desire nothing, but that God may prosper your estate, and send you comfort and joy, not only in your children but in all other things, that he thinks meet. Now the time draweth near that I must lay down my foolish head, and deliver it to the block, whereon many innocents have suffered; but all this innocent blood which hath been shed within these walls must be revenged, for the blood of innocents is spilt in the sight of God, and everything is known to him. The innocent blood which hath been shed in the sight of God, and everything is known to him. The innocent blood which hath been shed in this place, the walls do cry out vengeance for it, and it will fall upon some. My guiltless blood must needs require vengeance, which now I doubt not but it shall shortly appear, good father, I would gladly have written a much longer letter to you, but I have not time. Remember my last words, and cleave fast unto God. Good father, forbear this life, thinking that by this death you are delivered from a great misery, and that I am well stored up in God, and assure yourself there is no such joy or pleasure in this life which should cause you to wish me alive again.
Remember what our saviour saith — Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. If you remember the joy that I shall be in, how cheerfully will you bear my departure. It was God's will that I should die thus. Therefore rejoice at it. For I shall be happy. And so the Lord Jesus strengthen you and comfort you.
Amen_.