while his majesty enjoyed a temporary liberty; but after Charles was confined
as a prisoner in Carisbrook Castle, Lauderdale and the commissioners so
effectually wrought, that they prevailed with him to sign the Engagement,
a secret proposal, which formed a separate treaty for Scotland. By the terms
of this compact the king agreed, among other important concessions, that the
Scots should be equally admitted into all foreign employments with the English; that a third part of all the offices about the king, queen, and prince,
should be bestowed upon Scotchmen, and that the king and prince, or one of
them, should frequently reside in Scotland. But the crowning concession of
all was contained in his consent that the church throughout his dominions
should be subjected to the provisions of what he had already termed their
"damnable covenant." It requires no profound knowledge of that kind of
kingcraft which Charles inherited from his father, to surmise with what
facility he would have broken these engagements, had he been restored
to place and power. His reposition they engaged on their part to do their
utmost to effect, by raising an army for the invasion of England. The Earl
of Lauderdale, thus pledged to become a staunch royalist, and with the restoration of royalty in full perspective, of which he might hope to reap the first-fruits, returned to Scotland, and set everything in train for the accomplishment
of his promises. In conformity with the terms of the Engagement, he also
went to Holland, for the purpose of persuading the Prince of Wales to put himself at the head of the Scottish army destined for the invasion of England; but in this delicate negotiation he conducted himself with such dictatorial arrogance
of temper, and in such a coarse blustering manner, that the prince saw little
temptation to follow such a leader, especially into the dangers of a doubtful
war, and therefore contented himself with his residence at the Hague. Here,
too, Lauderdale was compelled to remain, just when he was on the point of
embarking for Scotland, for at that critical moment tidings arrived of the utter
defeat of the Scottish army by Cromwell at Preston, the condemnation of the
Engagement by the Scottish Parliament, and the pains and penalties denounced
against its authors and subscribers. He returned to the little court at the
Hague, which he appears only to have disturbed by his divisive counsels and
personal resentments. Such was especially his conduct in the plan of the last
fatal campaign of the Marquis of Montrose, whom he seems to have hated with
a perfect hatred. On Charles II. being invited to Scotland, to be invested with
the ancient crown of his ancestors, Lauderdale accompanied him, but was so
obnoxious to the more strict Presbyterians for his share in the Engagement,
that he was forbid to enter the royal presence, and even compelled to fly into
concealment until the popular anger had abated. On being recalled to the
royal councils, he seems to have ingratiated himself wonderfully with the
young king, who perhaps found in him a less severe censor than Argyle, and
the other leaders of the Covenant by whom he was surrounded. This favour,
however, for the present was of little advantage to him, as it made him a
necessary participator in the ill-fated expedition into England, where he was
taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester. For nine long years after he was
subjected to close confinement in the Tower of London, Portland Castle, and
other places, until the arrival of Monk in London, in 1660, by whom he was set
at liberty.
On recovering his freedom, and seeing how the wind was setting in favour of royalty, Lauderdale repaired to the Hague, and was received by Charles II.
