As the jailer, the common man comes across as selfish, although you can see the reasons why. You also realize that you would act similarly in situations like that. More is in jail and is saying goodbye for the last time to his wife and child, two people that he has the greatest love for. The Common Man as the jailer has to remove Alice and Meg from the cell and when More asks him for more time he tries to make excuses and calls himself a 'plain, simple man' who just wants 'to keep out of trouble'. Once again, he puts himself first, as he knows that this could turn out to be a potentially dangerous situation for himself.
The Common Man only has his own interests at heart. There are many examples of this in the play, one of which being when Chapuys is getting information out of him and he admits he only will 'serve one' namely he. Another example of this is when More tells him about the reduced wages. The Common Man immediately tells him that he will be unable to stay. Again he comes across as selfish and fickle.
Our first impressions of Rich are ones that make us see him as an intelligent, ambitious young man who wants power, prestige and money. He also comes across as fickle. It is ironic that he is the one that makes the comment that 'every man has his price' and that it is he that betrays himself the most as well as betraying More. Rich only seems interested in somewhat trivial matters compared to others. When Rich is talking to More about what money could buy he suddenly mentions 'some decent clothes'. He seems obsessed with his image. This is just as important to him as More's principles are to More.
Rich is the type of person who will change his standards and opinions almost instantaneously. Rich is desperate to get a job with power, so much so that he is willing to drop his standards and sinks to the point of trying to bribe the 'Cardinal's outer doorman' in order to get closer to Wolsey.