round the base. Beyond and between
these marvellous and ancient trees were the gardens of Montezuma, that
with their strange and gorgeous flowers, their marble baths, their
aviaries and wild beast dens, were, as I believe, the most wonderful in
the whole world.*

'At the least,' I thought to myself, 'even if I must die, it is
something to have seen this country of Anahuac, its king, its customs,
and its people.'

* The gardens of Montezuma have been long destroyed, but
some of the cedars still flourish at Chapoltepec, though the
Spaniards cut down many. One of them, which tradition says
was a favourite tree of the great emperor's, measures
(according to a rough calculation the author of this book
made upon the spot) about sixty feet round the bole. It is
strange to think that a few ancient conifers should alone
survive of all the glories of Montezuma's wealth and state.
--AUTHOR.

CHAPTER XVI

THOMAS BECOMES A GOD

Little did I, plain Thomas Wingfield, gentleman, know, when I rose that
morning, that before sunset I should be a god, and after Montezuma the
Emperor, the most honoured man, or rather god, in the city of Mexico.

It came about thus. When I had breakfasted with the household of the
prince Guatemoc, I was led to the hall of justice, which was named the
'tribunal of god.' Here on a golden throne sat Montezuma, administering
justice in such pomp as I cannot describe. About him were his
counsellors and great lords, and before him was placed a human skull
crowned with emeralds so large that a blaze of light went up from them.
In his hand also he held an arrow for a sceptre. Certain chiefs or
caciques were on their trial for treason, nor were they left long in
doubt as to their fate. For when some evidence had been heard they were
asked what they had to say in their defence. Each of them told his tale
in few words and short. Then Montezuma, who till now had said and done
nothing, took the painted scroll of their indictments and pricked it
with the arrow in his hand where the picture of each prisoner appeared
upon the scroll. Then they were led away to death, but how they died I
do not know.

When this trial was finished certain priests entered the hall clothed
in sable robes, their matted hair hanging down their backs. They were
fierce, wild-eyed men of great dignity, and I shivered when I saw them.
I noticed also that they alone made small reverence to