After the suspicious deaths of several of the French nobility, Louis ordered the Commissioner of Police, Nicholas de la Reynie, to investigate
Opening the Chambre Ardente, or Burning Court (a black draped room with candles), in 1677
following three years, 320 people were arrested and 36 were executed. La voison: Reynie's investigation began with the arrest and torture of fortune teller Marie Bosse, who had boasted that she could be hired to kill husbands
confessions and namings of others
using naked females as altars, and cutting the throats of babies to drink their blood
indulged in astrology and seances
was alleged to be poisoning the husbands
and give love potions to others
King's mistress, Madame de Montespan, was implicated in the Coven
was burned alive in February 1680, popularly being associated with the Devil, but proclaiming her innocence to the end.
clipped from: www.unexplained-mysteries.com 