“In the name of God, amen—the 6th daye of the moneth of Octobre in the yere of our Lord God a thousand fyve hundred and sixe, I, Alice Love, the wife of Gyles Love of Rye, by the speciall license of my said husband, asked and opteyned [What does the modern woman think of this?], bequeath my parapharnalle—that is to seye, myn apparaill to my body belonging. First, I bequeith my sowle unto Almighty God, to our blessed Lady and to alle Saynts, my body to be buried in the chirch yarde of Rye nigh my husband’s Thomas Oxenbridge. [It will be seen that Gyles Love was this Lady’s second husband.] Item, to my moder my graye furred gowne with a long trayne; also a gowne clothe of russet, not made. Item, to my suster Mercy my best violet gowne furred with shanks. Item, to Margarette Philip my best wolstede kyrtill. Also I gyve to my suster Mercy my dymysent with peerles and a corse of gold. Item, to Thomas Oxenbridge my best gilt gyrdell that my husband Thomas Oxenbridge bought me to my wedding. Item, to Robert Oxenbridge a rede powdred corse, with a good harness, and to everiche of them a paire of bedys of rede corall. Item, to Besse Love my best crymsyn gowne, also her moder’s best girdell and her best bedys. Also to my suster Elizabeth Duke a long girdell gilt with a golden corse.”
Will of Christopher Columbus
(1506)
There seems to be much confusion as to the will of Columbus, although, in 1498, he made one, and it is known to have existed in 1530; but it is asserted that it was unsigned, and, moreover, that it was nullified by a later will he made in 1502, but which also is not to be found at the present time.
The only authentic will of his, therefore, that has descended to us is that preserved at Genoa, but which can only be called a codicil.
It is written on the fly-leaf of a book of “Hours,” richly bound and adorned, which Columbus had received from Pope Alexander VI., and to which he attached the greatest value; indeed, this is apparent, from the fact that it is the first object of which he disposes in this same codicil:
Codicillus more militari Christopheri Colombi.
Cum SS Alexander, PP. VI., me hoc devatissimo precum libello honoravit, summum mihi præbente solatium in captivitatibus, præliis et adversitatibus meis, volo ut post mortem meam pro memoria tradatur amantissimæ meæ patriæ republicæ Genuensi; et ob beneficia in eadem urbe recepta volo ex stabilibus in Italia redditibus erigi ibidem novum hospitale, ac pro pauperum in patria meliori substentatione, deficientique linea mea masculina in admiraltu meo Indiarum et annexis juxta privilegiis dicti regis insuccessorem declaro et substituo eamdem rempublicam Sancti Georgii.
Datum Valledoliti, 4 Maii, 1506.
The initial letters which precede the signature of the Christian name of Columbus (altered, however, into Christo-ferens) have never been explained, any more than the two eagles which also precede it; this spelling, however, need throw no doubt on its authenticity, as it is identical with the signatures of two letters, dated respectively 1502 and 1504, addressed to the Ambassador, Nicolas Oderigo.