Give the Devil the Benefit of Law

In the 1966 film adaptation of Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons, the indelible Paul Schofield, who played Sir Thomas More, then Lord Chancellor of England, roared like a lion during his exchange with his young son-in-law, William Roper. The subject of their contention – Richard Rich, the man who would later betray Sir Thomas and become Lord Chancellor himself – asked the incorruptible Sir Thomas if he would employ him under his charge. Sensing Rich’s lack of moral fortitude, he denies the request, and the eager Roper implores him to arrest Rich before he becomes an interloper at Court. Having committed no crime as of yet, Sir Thomas says that he shall let him go until he broke a law, even if Rich was the Devil himself.