A Decree of the French King's Council of State, concerning Callicoes printed in East-India, or printed in the King∣dom, and other China and India Silks, Stuffs, and Flowered with Gold and Sil∣ver: Given the 26th. of October, 1686.

THE King being informed, That the great Quantities of Callicoes, printed in East-India, or painted in the King∣dom, and other China and India Silks, Stuffs, and Stuffs flower'd with Gold and Silver, have not only given Occasion of Transporting many Millions, but also have diminished the Manufactures of Old Established in France, for making of Silk, Wollen, Linen and Hemp-stuffs, and at the same time the Ruine and Destru∣ction of the Working People, who, by want of Work, having no Occupation, or Subsistence for their Families, are gone out of the King∣dom; the which, being needful to provide a Page  36 Remedy for, and for that Effect to hinder the Trade and ••le in the Kingdom of the said Printed Callicoes, and India and China Silks and Stuffs, nevertheless granting to the Owners a reasonable Time to sell them in. Having heard the Report of Mounsieur Pellitier, Counseller Ordinary of the King's Royal Council, and Comptroller General of the Finances; his Ma∣jesty, in his Council hath ordered, and doth order, that from the beginning of the Day of the Publication of the present Decree, all the Manufactures established in the Kingdom, for Painting of the White Callicoes, shall be abolished; and the Moulds serving to the Printing of them shall be broke and destroyed: His Majesty doth forbid most expresly the re-establishing thereof: Also to his Subjects the Painting of the said Callicoes, and to the En∣gravers the making of any Moulds serving to the said Impressions, under the Penalty of lo∣sing the said Callicoes, Moulds and other Uten∣sils, and Three Thousand Livres Fine, to be paid without Diminution, one third part to the Informer, the second part to the Hospitals of the Place, the third to the Farmers of the of the Revenue. And as concerning the Paint∣ed Callicoes, and other China and India Silks, Stuffs, and Stuffs flower'd with Gold and Sil∣ver, his Majesty hath granted, and doth grant, to the last of December, 1687. next, to the Merchants and others, the permission of selling them as they shall think fit: The same Time being expired, his Majesty doth forbid all Per∣sons, of what Quality and Condition whatso∣ever they are, the exposing and selling thereof; Page  37 and to particulars, the buying therof, doth or∣der, That those found in all Ware-houses and Shops shall be burnt, and the Proprietors con∣demn'd to the like Fine of Three Thousand Livres, paid as abovesaid. His Majesty doth permit, nevertheless, the Entry, Sale and Re∣tail, of the said White Callicoes in his King∣dom; paying for them the Taxes according to the Decree of the Council the 30th. of April last, which shall be Executed; and that of the 15th. of the present Month, to the last of De∣cember, 1687. last year. His Majesty doth com∣mand the Lieutenant of the Policy of the City of Paris, and the Intendents and Commissaries of the Provinces and Generalties of the King∣dom, to cause the present Decree to be executed, being published and affixed in all Places where need shall be, that no Body should be ignorant thereof. Done in the King's State-Council held at Fountainbleau. Signed Coquille.

Note, Several of the French Printers since this Edict, are come over hither, and set up, and follow the same Employment.

Query, Whether the Printing of the Silks and Callicoes in England, is not as prejudicial to us as it was to the French?