Table Of ContentA Good Deed is Never Forgotten:
Credit and Mutual Exchange in Seventeenth-Century France
Volume One of Two
A Dissertation
submitted to the Faculty of the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
in History
By
Valerie J. Shearer, M.A.
Washington, D.C.
August 22, 2005
/ .-•* . ./
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UMI Number: 3230998
Copyright 2006 by
Shearer, Valerie J.
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Valerie J. Shearer, M.A.
Thesis Advisor: James B. Collins, Ph.D.
Abstract
Historians have argued that early modem "patron-client" relations revolved around
fidelity, a value many of them contrast to personal interest. My dissertation rejects the
self-interest paradigm as an anachronistic interpolation. More broadly, my thesis rejects
the application to early modem societies of paradigms, such as rational choice theory,
drawn from analyses of contemporary Western societies. Relying instead on Pierre
Bourdieu’s theory of social capital, which suggests that individuals accumulate the
material and social capital necessary in different fields of power, one can broaden the
definition of profit and analyze a logic of practice that escapes the “rationality” of
capitalism. Focusing on France in the decades leading up to the Estates General of 1614,
my dissertation examines issues of reciprocity within a range of fields of power, using
archival and published sources: letters, financial documents, political pamphlets,
memoirs, courtesy books, literature, political philosophy, moral and religious treatises,
and material evidence such as architecture and art. The dissertation focuses, in part, on
the Brulart de Sillery family, the only one of the great ministerial families of the early
seventeenth century to have been ignored by historians. The Sillery family provides a
particular case of the shift away from the traditional belief that posited a unity between
private interest and common interest in civil life. From the early seventeenth century, this
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ideal was contested in relations of power wherein the duty and obligation shifted from
the bienpublique to interests either more particular or more state-centered. The mutual
exchange of benefits operated as a moral economy in which individuals accrued social
capital (credit) in civil society, as circles of "citoyens" bound by mutual benefits and
obligations. The expectation of reward for a “bienfait” did not obviate the moral
rectitude of the gift, reciprocity structured the political system, social relationships, and
religious life within the framework of the existing Judea-Christian and Classical ethical
traditions.
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GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
This is to certify that we have examined the doctoral dissertation of
Valerie Shearer
entitled
A Good Deed is Never Forgotten:
The Culture of Giving in 17th Century France and Quebec
submitted to the faculty of History
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy.
This dissertation is complete and satisfactory in all respects, and any and all revisions required
by the final examining committee have been made.
James B. Collins
Thesis Advisor nature
Jo Ann Moran Cruz
Committee Member Signature Date
Kristen Neuschel
Associate Professor Signature^ Date
Duke University
/ J
John R. McNeill
Director of Graduate Studies Date
This dissertation has been accepted by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Y / / 2 / # £
Date
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In Memoriam
Raymond B. Shearer
1947-1999
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PREFACE
Words strain, Crack and sometimes break, under the burden. T.S. Eliot
I am thankful for the support and faith of the community of Georgetown University.
For the circulation of books and ideas, I will forever thank Annette Talbert and Kimberly
Brooks and certainly Madame Beauchamp. Bob Schnucker counseled a long time ago that
my children would learn many things from my studies — they learned their way around
libraries and discovered the weight of books; for this, I thank all of them but will name
only Ezra. I have enjoyed the great fortune of the Internet; do I thank technology?
Truly, it is impossible to thank teachers. I can only say there are some that live always
present (as footfalls echo) like James Heard at Harold Washington College; Bruce Steiner,
Steve Miner, Katherine Jellison at Ohio University; Jeff Herf at the University of
Maryland; Joanne Rappaport and Jo Anne Hoeppner Moran Cruz at Georgetown
University. Natalie Davis gave encouragement at exacdy the right moment. Kristen
Neuschel was present long before we met. Bob Schnucker has been ever-present with
kindness since that seminar when I first learned the meaning of grace. Doug Baxter is
unflinching with generosity, constant with support and guidance. I have been through the
worst and best of times with Jim Collins and his patience is written throughout. I will
pass it on.
For the comfort and affection of family and friends who had faith when I did not,
Gratia.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE..............................................................................................................................................................V
TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................................VI
TABLE OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................................VIII
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................1
PART ONE THE PARADOX OF BENEFITS_________________________________________18
I The Obligations of Benefits: Debates Since Mauss.........................................................29
II Social Capital and the Economics of Benefits.................................................................40
III Social Capital in Early Modern France.............................................................................57
PART TWO OBLIGATIONS AND BENEFITS IN FRIENDSHIP___________________ 78
IV Proverbial Wisdom...........................................................................................................................84
V The Science of Morals....................................................................................................................117
THE Traicte de la covr BY EUSTACHE DE REFUGE.........................................................................127
Habitude........................................................................................................................................................135
The Moral Philosophy of Guazzo, Palmier and la Primaudaye...............................................140
PART THREE THE POLITICS OF BENEFITS_____________________________________ 176
VI Political Theory: Benefits and Harmony in Order...................................................184
VII The Public Debate: Benefits and Venality....................................................................214
VIII Preaching Harmony and Order..........................................................................................276
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PART FOUR LA MAISON BRULARTDE SILLERY......................................................308
IX Honor and Credit..........................................................................................................................317
X The Concord of the Family Alliance..................................................................................335
XI The Disgrace of the B rulart de Sillery...........................................................................366
The Fdcheuse Affair of the Valtelline......................................................................................394
PART FIVE THE DEVOUT LIFE.......................................................................................421
XII Retreat from the World.........................................................................................................431
XIII The Science of Charity.............................................................................................................461
XIV The Sweetness Of Charity.....................................................................................................485
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................................528
Genealogy......................................................................................................................................................535
Glossary..........................................................................................................................................................539
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................................542
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TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1. “Amitie Durante, Voire Apres M ort” from Barthelem y Aneau, Emblemes d'Aloiat
(1549)....................................................................................................................................................................................2
Figure 2. The Three Graces, Raphael (1504). Musee Conde.........................................................................35
Figure 3. “L’une main lave l ’aultre” from Proverbesenrimes (ca. 1475)...........................................93
Figure 4. “M utuel ayde” from Barthelem y Aneau, Emblemes d'Aloiat(1549).................................98
Figure 5. “G ratle” from Claude M ignault, Omnia Andreae Alc/a n (ca. 1577).............................. 105
Figure 6. Pour unAmietServiteurFidele, (1559). Gabriel Symeon.......................................................148
Figure 7. “Concorde” from Barthelemy Aneau, Emblemes d'Aloiat (1549)......................................264
Figure 8. “Concorde Insuperable” from Barthelem y Aneau, Emblemes d'Aloiat (1549).........265
Figure 9. “SalutPublicque” from Barthelem y Aneau, LesEmblemes (155%)................................267
Figure 10. “Esperance” from Barthelem y Aneau, Emblemes d'Aloiat(1549).................................270
Figure 11. “Generosity” from Nicolas Oresme, AvisauRoy(1435).......................................................272
Figure 12. “Amitie pour proffit” from Nicolas Oresme, Ethiques (ca. 1450)...................................301
Figure 13. “Amiste entre Prince et suiez, entre parens, mariez” fromNicolas Oresme,
Ethiques(ca. 1450)...................................................................................................................................................301
Figure 14. “Merci Je te delivrai ... Merci Pere” from N icolas Oresme, Ethiques(ca.\45Q). 333
Figure 15. Jacques Blanchard, Venus and the Three Graces Surprised by a Mortal (1631).... 453
Figure 16. M edaille. Noel B rulart de Silleri (1632). Musee national de la Renaissance. .. 460
Figure 17. The Interior Dome ofNotre-Dames-des-Anges in Babelon, Franqois Mansart.... 497
Figure 18. Antoine Pierretz, LeFameuxFrontspiecedu TempledeSainte-Marie, (ca. 1650). 501
Figure 19. Noel Brulart de Sillery, Anonymous. Troyes C athedral...................................................525
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