The French economist Barthelemi de Laffemas, whose writings had contributed not a little to encourage Henry IV. in his favourable dispositions towards the national industries, mentions the existence in Paris in 1597, "of a master named Godefroy, who makes all sorts of silk fabrics, cloths of gold and silver, and without any question, he will make them more beautiful than have ever come from foreign countries".

There was established a special workshop at the logis de la Maque, which formed part of the ancient hotel d'Anjou, situated in the Rue de la Tixe-randerie. This is what is said of this establishment in the septennary chronology of Palma Cayet, under the dates 1603, 1604. "His majesty sent for excellent workmen, by whose means such a craft might be carried on. The Sieurs du Bourg, father and son, skilled in this art, were encouraged to leave their home, in order to come and settle in Paris, and were lodged in la Maque, by order of the king [a house well suited and proper for this purpose]. They make excellent pieces, heightened with gold and silver thread, cloths of gold and silver, gold and silver stuffs, with gold thread twisted in every way with such a natural grace, both of materials and ornaments, that in the figured damasks, satins and other works, the colours that shine in them seem to be all naturally produced just as they are, such is the simple and subtle skill of their tissues." The establishment was on one occasion visited by the king, accompanied by his court.

There soon arose a fresh manufactory on the grounds of the royal park of the Tournelles in a large place built on its four sides and called the place Royale. In the year 1606 these buildings were completed, the looms were at work, and the contractors Sainctot, Camus, Parfaict, and Le Magne had been ennobled.

We have not yet spoken of a factory at Montpellier, mentioned by Laffemas as having begun so early as 1592 to make velvets, satins, taffety, and other silken stuffs. It is nowhere else spoken of unless we go back to a very remote period, in which case it would have to be regarded as the oldest workshop in France. M. Fr. Michel quotes this poem of the twelfth century: -

Vait en la vile, si fait faire un braier Del millor paile que on puisse baillier.. Et les basnieres firent mout a proisier Derice paile qui vint de Montpellier.

He further refers to a document from the royal household of Henry III. of England, preserved at Bordeaux, and which in 1232 bespoke at Montpellier, amongst other things, twenty pieces of silk and four of scarlet cloth. But we agree with the learned author that this has reference rather to orders on dealers or depositories of goods brought from various quarters than to local manufactures.

The encouragement given to the silk industries did not cease with the seventeenth century. A royal manufactory of silken fabrics established at Puy EN Velay by letters patent of March 6th, 1767, received a subsidy for the reconstruction of the buildings it occupied.

Fontainebleau had an establishment authorised by a decree of the Council, dated October 30th, 1775, and by a second decree of March 22nd, 1777, the contractor, Gilles-Francois Salmon, received fresh encouragement.