They are not responsible for their father's misdeeds and ambition, and it may be that, if they are restored, Glendower may be induced to treat those who fall into his hands mercifully.

None but ourselves know of this, and no one need ever know.
"I will risk it, anyhow," he said after a short pause.

"I know that I am not doing my duty in letting them go; and that, were it ever known, I should lose all chance of further advancement, if indeed I did not lose my life.

However, it need never be known, and my conscience would sorely trouble me, whenever I thought of them shut up in one of King Henry's prisons." He turned to the girls again.
"Think you, ladies," he asked, "that were you in the king's hands, your father would make terms and submit himself ?" "Certainly not," the one who had spoken before said.

"He has other children--sons and daughters--and he would not dream of abandoning his rights, and betraying his country, to obtain the liberty of two of us." "In that case, then, your imprisonment would in no degree stop this war, or bring about a renewal of peace between the two countries ?" "Certainly not; and as for us, we would strangle ourselves in prison, did we think that any thought of us would turn our father from his noble purpose." "Then in that case," Oswald said quietly, "it is clear that your captivity would do nought to bring about peace, or to allay the troubles that have now begun.