An edict is an announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism. The Pope and various micronational leaders are the only persons who still issue edicts.
A French edict, of Finance Minister Colbert (17th Century), was intended to improve the quality of cloth. This law declared that if a merchant's cloth was not found to be satisfactory, on three separate occasions; then, he was to be tied to a post, with the cloth attached to him.
