He accompanied King Charles II into England in 1651 and was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester, and remained in confinement for several years in the Tower of London.
His estate was sequestrated, lands of £200 a year value being settled on his wife and children, and he was excepted from Cromwell's Act of Grace in April 1654.
In 1656 he was allowed to levy 1000 men for the service of king Charles X Gustav of Sweden, and, probably at his instance, was formally pardoned by Parliament in 1657.
On 15 January 1661/2 he, being then 'of the parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster', was found guilty of slaying Alexander Skringer, Esq., with a rapier in self-defence.
Cranstoun married by contract on 10 July 1643, Mary, fifth and youngest daughter of Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven, by whom he had:[1] The 3rd Lord Cranstoun was still alive on 29 July 1664, when his son had a charter of lands where he was designated "James, Master of Cranstoun".