My wages been ful streite and ful smale.
My lord is hard to me and daungerous,
And myn office is ful laborous,
And therfore by extorcions I lyve.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Friar’s Tale. The Devil disguised as the Yeoman continues his deceitful conversation with the Summoner, saying that he has to thieve to live because his lord doesn’t pay him well.