But it was not infamous, nay, it was laudable, in the kinsmen and friends of a prisoner to contribute of their substance in order to make up a purse for Jeffreys.

The Sallee rover, who threatened to bastinado a Christian captive to death unless a ransom was forthcoming, was an odious ruffian.
But to ransom a Christian captive from a Sallee rover was, not merely an innocent, but a highly meritorious act.

It would be improper in such cases to use the word corruption.

Those who receive the filthy lucre are corrupt already.

He who bribes them does not make them wicked: he finds them so; and he merely prevents their evil propensities from producing evil effects.