The scandal of the amours of Louis XIV was only the more intense because the young Marquis de Montespan was by no means a complaisant husband, a singular fact at that period and in that society. 'He was an extravagant and extraordinary man,' says Mademoiselle de Montpensier, 'who complained to everybody of the friendship of the king for his wife.' There were scenes between the spouses, and he struck her. He provoked scenes with the king. 'When Montespan went to Saint-Germain sermonising thus, Madame de Montespan was in despair. He used to come to see me very often,' says Mademoiselle de Montpensier; 'he is a relative of mine, and I scolded him. He came one evening and repeated to me an harangue he had delivered to the king, in which he quoted innumerable passages of Scripture, about David, for instance, and finally used strong terms to induce him to give back his wife and fear the judgment of God. I said to him, "You are mad!" I was at Saint-Germain next day and said to Madame de Montespan: "I have seen your husband in Paris, and he is madder than ever; I sharply scolded him and told him that if he didn't hold his tongue he would deserve to be locked up." She said to me: "He is here telling his tales at court; I am ashamed to see that my parrot and he are amusing the mob."' Louis XIV was naturally irritated by the attitude of this surprising husband. Almighty as he was, he resorted to the tricks and subterfuges of a vulgar lover. His anxiety was redoubled when his mistress became a mother. The king was very fond of his children, particularly those he had by Madame de Montespan. In the eyes of the law these children belonged to the husband; and Louis trembled with fear lest Montespan, out of vengeance or irony, should come and take from him his son and daughter. Montespan found a supporter in his uncle the Archbishop of Sens. 'When the king's passion was known,' says the Abbé Boileau, brother of the poet, 'the archbishop sentenced to public penance a woman of the town who lived as the marchioness, his niece, was living, in open concubinage, and he caused the publication in his diocese of the old canons against the violation of the religious law.' The diocese of Sens included Fontainebleau, where the court was then held. Madame de Montespan was compelled to take her departure in confusion. She felt that it was she who was being pointed at. She dared not return into the jurisdiction of the archbishop until after the prelate's death in 1674.