Beatriz shares with his legitimate wife the curious distinction of being spoken of by Columbus to posterity only in his will, which was executed at Valladolid the day before he died.

In the dry ink and vellum of that ancient legal document is his only record of these two passions.

The reference to Beatriz is as follows: "And I direct him [Diego] to make provision for Beatriz Enriquez, mother of D.Fernando, my son, that she may be able to live honestly, being a person to whom I am under very great obligation.
And this shall be done for the satisfaction of my conscience, because this matter weighs heavily upon my soul.

The reason for which it is not fitting to write here." About the condition of Beatriz, temporal and spiritual, there has been much controversy; but where the facts are all so buried and inaccessible it is unseemly to agitate a veil which we cannot lift, and behind which Columbus himself sheltered this incident of his life.

"Acquainted with poverty" is one fragment of fact concerning her that has come down to us; acquainted also with love and with happiness, it would seem, as many poor persons undoubtedly are.