At one time he maintained--after dinner, of course--that he would have killed the Archbishop if they had not been forcibly separated; at other moments he denounced as liars all persons who should insinuate that he had committed or contemplated any injury to that prelate; offering freely to fight any man who disputed either of his two positions.
The whole scene was dramatized and represented in masquerade at a wedding festival given by Councillor d'Assonleville, on the marriage of Councillor Hopper's daughter, one of the principal parts being enacted by a son of the President-judge of Artois.

It may be supposed that if such eminent personages, in close connexion with the government, took part in such proceedings, the riot must have been considered of a very pardonable nature.

The truth was, that the Bishop was a cardinalist, and therefore entirely out of favor with the administration.

He was also a man of treacherous, sanguinary character, and consequently detested by the people.

He had done his best to destroy heresy in Valenciennes by fire and sword.