that there was hopes of making a prize thereby, and then to be sure
if they could not produce good and sufficient ground of the
payment, a hundred to one but they payed it again. Sometimes the
honest Chapman would appeal to his servants for proof of the
payment of money, but they were trained up by him to say after his
mind, right or wrong: so that, relief that way, he could get none.

Atten. It is a bad, yea an abominable thing for a man to have such
servants. For by such means a poor customer may be undone and not
know how to help himself. Alas! if the master be so
unconscionable, as I perceive Mr. Badman was, to call for his money
twice, and if his servant will swear that it is a due debt, where
is any help for such a man? he must sink, there is no remedy.

Wise. This is very bad, but this has been a practice, and that
hundreds of years agoe. But what saith the Word of God? I will
punish all those that leap upon the threshold, which fill their
masters houses with violence and deceit. {115a} {115b}

Mr. Badman also had this art; could he get a man at advantage, that
is, if his chapman durst not go from him, or if the comodity he
wanted could not for the present be conveniently had elsewhere;
Then let him look to himself, he would surely make his purse-
strings crack; he would exact upon him without any pity or
conscience.

Atten. That was Extortion, was it not? I pray let me hear your
Judgment of Extortion, what it is, and when committed?

Wise. Extortion {115c} is a screwing from men more than by the Law