Hostage

in the art of war, a person given up to an enemy, as a security for the performance of the articles of a treaty. When two enemies enter into a treaty or capitulation, it is common for them mutually to give hostages as a security for their reciprocally performing the engagement they have entered into. An hostage becomes either an acce ary, or principal according to the state of things. Thus, for example, he is acce ary when a prince promises fidelity to another prince, and gives either his son or some great lord, as a security for his performance, without any further capitulation; for then these hostages are only an additional engagement of the prince; and if he violates his word, they are not in any manner responsible. An hostage becomes a principal when it is stipulated that he shall be answerable for the event of things. For instance, if a city promise to surrender within a certain time, in case it is not succoured, and, for the security of this article, give hostages (which are in the same nature as bail given to a creditor to secure a debt); so that if the succour arrives in time, the promise becomes void, and the hostages are discharged; but if the succours do not arrive, and the city is guilty of a breach of faith by refusing to surrender, then the hostages become principal, and may be punished for a breach of faith.