Abstract: A braking device for controlling the slippage of a line therethrough comprises an elongate flat link having a load-carrying eye at each end thereof. A plurality of crossbars connecting longitudinal side members of the link are spaced apart along one side of the link, while swinging brake bars are pivotably connected to one of the longitudinal members of the link, interposed between adjacent crossbars. One end of each swinging brake bar is free to be pivoted away from the other of the longitudinal members, permitting a bight of a line to be passed around each brake bar, providing a serpentine path for the line through the braking device. Applying tension to a free end of the line controls the frictional braking effect of the device as the line is pulled through the braking device by a suspended load.