Given in good faith they would not be harmed

Question

"It wasn’t just Richard who flaunted the code — almost every member of the devil’s brood strayed from it at some point. Both Henry II and John held Scottish and Welsh hostages — given in good faith they would not be harmed — and had them mutilated and executed in gruesome fashion." Could smb please explain what the underlined means?

Clive · Accepted Answer

flouted, not flaunted.

There is no underlining. Which part are you asking about?

Clive · Answer

You could reword that as follows.

Both Henry II and John held Scottish and Welsh hostages, who had been given in good faith that they would not be harmed, and had them mutilated and executed in gruesome fashion.

Here's the meaning.

Henry and John promised the Scottish and Welsh leaders that hostages would not be harmed.

The Scottish and Welsh gave hostages in the belief (ie in good faith) that they would not be harmed.

But Henry and John killed the hostages.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

"good faith" = a solemn promise or oath, relying on the honor of the person.

For example, King Maladroit captured King Harold in battle, and wants his jewels as a ransom. But King Harold has the key to unlock the safe where the jewels are. So Harold proposes to give his only son as hostage to King Maladroit as security that he will go, get the jewels and return with them. King Maladroit swears an oath that he will not harm the son while King Harold is away, and will free the son unharmed in exchange for the jewels. (This is to give "in good faith.")

Given in good faith they would not be harmed

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