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 The Poison Drama. might espouse the king." This first " Black Mass" was celebrated in 1667. The follow ing year a second mass was served, this time within the precincts of the royal court, and her prayer was that she obtain the favor of the king and to cause La Valliere's death.

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It was proved at the criminal trial later that the masses were not effectual unless three were celebrated. The Abbe Guibourg sought his own safety and advantage and demanded the sum of one hundred dollars in cash and a large pension to be paid yearly as long as he lived.

MADAME HE MONTESPAN. In that year she realized part of her ambi tion and became one of the monarch's mis tresses; in the following year she bore him a child. There is no evidence that any child was sacrificed at either of these two masses, paid for by Montespan, but as the king's first flush of fondness for the beautiful woman cooled, Montespan sought out La Voisin again and arranged for three masses.

At the consecration Guibourg recited his incantation, the words of which he gave later to the Commissaries of the Chambre Ardente : "Ashtaroth, Asmodeus, Princes of Affec tion, I conjure you to accept the sacrifice I present to you of this child for the things I ask of you, which are that the affections of the king and my lord the dauphin for me