No Aztec monarch, yet, has ever shown want of courage." Three or four days later, another event occurred which heightened the fury of the Mexicans against the Spaniards.

The cazique who had attacked the Spaniards on the coast arrived at Mexico, accompanied by his son and fifteen other chiefs who had acted with them.
Montezuma referred the matter to the examination of Cortez.

The cazique admitted the part he had taken in the attack on the Spaniards, and did not seek to shelter himself under royal authority; until sentence of death was passed on him and the other chiefs, when they all declared that they had acted on the authority of Montezuma.

They were condemned to be burnt alive, in the space in front of the palace, and this sentence was carried out.
Not content with this, Cortez placed irons upon Montezuma himself, saying there could now be no longer a doubt as to his guilt.

After the execution was carried out, Montezuma was released from his fetters.
The news of this insult to their monarch created a profound impression upon the Mexicans.