John Dryden, in Act IV scene i of his play “The Spanish Fryar or The Double Discovery” published in 1681:
LORENZO
And make what haste you can to bring out the Lady. What say you, Father? Burglary is but a venial Sin among Souldiers.
DOMINIC
I shall absolve them, because he is an enemy of the Church – there is a Proverb, I confess, which says, That Dead-men tell no Tales; but let your Souldiers apply it to their own Perils.
LORENZO
What, take away a man’s Wife, and kill him too! The Wickedness of this old Villain startles me, and gives me a twinge for my own Sin; though it come far short of his: hark you Souldiers, be sure you use as little Violence to him as is possible.