In France
After Richelieu died on 4 December 1642, Moray took news of his death to Charles I in Oxford. He was knighted by Charles I on 10 January 1643, who sent him back to France. Richelieu had been succeeded by Mazarin as Prime Minister of France, but Moray found himself out of favour in the French court. Following the death of Louis XIII in May 1643, and succession of the infant Louis XIV, Mazarin was became the de facto ruler of France.
Moray rejoined the French Army, becoming Colonel of the Garde Écossaise. He was sent to campaign in Germany, but was captured by the Duke of Bavaria on 24 November 1643 and was imprisoned in Bavaria. Mazarin refused to ransom him.
At length, Mazarin realised that Moray has useful contacts amongst the Scottish Freemasons, and arranged for his release from Bavaria on 28 April 1645, paying a ransom of £16,500. Charles lost the Battle of Naseby on 13 June 1645, and Mazarin sent Moray to England. Charles I had lost the battle of Marston Moor and surrendered himself to the Scots at Newark. Moray joined Charles I and the Scottish army in Newcastle in 1646, where, serving as his secretary (and secret agent of the Duke of Hamilton), he tried to persuade the King to escape, disguised as a woman. Charles backed out at the last minute, fearing to be discovered in a ridiculous situation. The Scots sold Charles I to Oliver Cromwell in 1647, in return for enough money to pay off their army. After a second Royalist uprising in 1648, while Charles was confined at Carisbrooke Castle, Charles was tried for high treason at Westminster, and executed on 30 January 1649.
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