The Virginia Gazette

They write from Paris, That the Examination of the Jeweller Govers has been made with the greatest Exactness. By this Means new Discoveries have been made, which are likely to prove very fatal to M. Chauvelin: that of the Cuirass was none of the least; that Particular of the History of that famous Piece of Armour are as follow: It was sent as a Present by the Grand Signior Soliman II. to Francis I. King of France, on Occasion of a Treaty which he had made with the Sultan, and which was the first that any Christian Prince had concluded with the Porte. This Cuirass was worth One Million Two Hundred Thousand Livres, as well on Account of the Gold with which it was covered, as with the Jewels which adorned it: M. Chauvelin had found Means of appropriating it to his own Use, by speaking slightly of it, and undervaluing it; assuring Cardinal Fleury, that he would give in Lieu thereof, a Diamond of high Value, which should be added to the Crown Jewels. He actually did send into the Royal Treasury, a Diamond, which he said was worth 200,000 Livres, but which prov'd to be scarce worth half the Money. All these Charges have been prov'd by the Testimony of the Sieur Govers.

There has likewise been discover'd by his Deposition that whenever the King made Presents of Jewels, M. Chauvelin never fail'd of fixing an exorbitant Price on them, and to make a Gain to himself of all above what was paid for them; and this he was the better able to discover as being the Queen's Jeweller, who always makes up Presents of that Nature. By his Means therefore it comes to be known, that the Sword set with Diamonds, which the King presented to the Infant Don Carlos, when he pass'd thro' some of the French Provinces in his Way to Parma; was charg'd at 200,000 Livres, and cost but 120,000, M. Chauvelin behav'd in the same Manner on the King's presenting a Sword to the Duke of Lorrain when he was at Paris. These Things seem to be so important, that it has been resolv'd to remove the Sieur Govers from the Bastille to Bourges, in order to confront M. Chauvelin. This Jeweller has in such Manner clear'd himself of what he was accus'd, that it is not doubted, but he will soon be releas'd, having made appear, that tho' he was employ'd by M. Chauvelin, he was in no sort privy to his wicked Intentions; the Sieur Govers has actually been instrumental in recovering several fine Jewels with which the Cuirass was adorn'd, and which had been sold at Paris greatly under their Value, proving by his Book of Accounts, that the Money they were sold for, was remitted to M. Chauvelin.