He was simply making extortionate exactions upon his wretched lessees.
( He ( ( ( was simply ) ( ( making ( extortionate exactions ) ) ( upon ( his ( wretched lessees ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP He)) (VP (VBD was) (ADVP (RB simply)) (VP (VBG making) (NP (JJ extortionate) (NNS exactions)) (PP (IN upon) (NP (PRP$ his) (JJ wretched) (NNS lessees))))) (. .)))
He was making excessive demands to his tenants.
( He ( ( was ( ( making ( excessive demands ) ) ( to ( his tenants ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP He)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBG making) (NP (JJ excessive) (NNS demands)) (PP (TO to) (NP (PRP$ his) (NNS tenants))))) (. .)))