The King of Denmark his declaration concerning the English merchants ships lying in Copenhagen.: Translated out of the Danish speech into English by Edvvard Smith, May 17. 1653.

A Copy of Sir Axel Urups and the right worshipful Otte Krags Letter to the Admiral of the English Fleet, delivered to those two Captains which the said Admiral had sent ashore to them, together with the Admirals Answer thereunto, Letter D.

HIs Kingly Majesty, our gracious Lord and King, hath given us charge to intimate to his Excellency, the Admiral of the Parliaments Fleet belonging to the Republique of England, now lying here, That it seemeth very strange to his Majesty, that the Parliament of England should send such a mighty Fleet of ships into the midst of his Majesties Land, and not at all given his Maje∣sty warning aforehand, nor desired permission to do it; the like was never before this present attempted of any that had not resol∣ved to begin hostility; seeing those that are in Treaty or Aliance with his Majesty, may not do it, except they do advertise thereof three weeks before any such Fleet should be suffered to come into the Streams: it was indeed reported to his Majesty that such a Fleet should come, but all the while neither his Majesty himself, nor his Embassador in England, were made privy to it, nor had any warning thereof: his Majesty could not conceive that the Parliament would resolve upon any such thing, as never was done by any of the Friends or Neighbors of this Crown.

His Majesty profers it to themselves, to consider how it would be taken in England, if such a mighty Fleet came into the Thames, without any foregoing warning or permission to come there: Also his Majesty had done the English Republique that honor to send an honorable Embassage thither, and did proffer a Treaty, and all good friendship, but hath not hitherto perceived that the Parlia∣ment have revealed themselves in any thing that might satisfie; yet did he not at all expect, that in the place of a like honorable Em∣bassage

from the Republique of England, or some full satisfacto∣ry Resolution otherways, his Majesty should be constrained to be∣hold, and that before his Kingly House and Castle, such a mighty Fleet of Ships, which men were uncertain what might be expect∣ed from them: And what charge it would put his Majesty upon, as all Potentates in such cases usually do, to put by all hostility from his Streams, so much as in such haste could be made towards pre∣paring his Fleet, they may judg: Wherefore his Majesty desireth they will not attempt to begin any act of hostility upon his Streams, but rather retire themselves further off, and not be found so neer his Majesties Castles with so great a power, which can do no other but give cause of suspicion and mistrust: Now according to his Majesties Command, we desire the Admirals Answer in Writing hereunto, and do as to our persons remain,

Your Excellencies willing Servants,

• Axel Ʋrup,
• Otte Krag.

From Helsingor the 21 of Septemb. 1652.

With a desire that it might be delivered to the Admiral, and we might as soon as possible receive from him a satisfactory Answer, wherewith we will presently repair to his Majesty, and also soli∣cite for a further Resolution for him toward his expedition, where∣withall the said Captains went aboard late toward evening, and afterward in the morning, being the 24 of Septemb. about six of the clock, did come again on shore with the said Admirals Answer to the last writing, delivered him dated about nine a clock at night, wherein he referreth himself to his former Letter, assuring that his coming thither with that Fleet was to no other intent but only to Convoy those English Ships that lie in Copenhaven, saying also that his Fleet was not of such force as we declared, desiring also that he might receive an absolute Answer, if the Ships might be suffered to follow him or not, that he might be gone back again, hoping that he had carryed himself here with all civility and respect: what more was required in our Letter, he did excuse himself, that he could not answer unto, as his foresaid Letter, signed N. 2. doth further shew: And when they gave us to understand, that they were again come to Town, we repaired unto them in the afore∣said

Borgemasters house, where they delivered us the said Admirals Letter, and therewithall desired we would visit the said Admiral aboard his Ship, and excused himself, for his not coming ashore to us was because he durst not adventure himself at that time from his Fleet, desiring earnestly that we would expedite and further them such an Answer, as that they might have the English Fleet with them, which they were sent for; and said also, that their Fleet was of no such consideration as it was look'd upon to be, for as much as it consisted of but eighteen ships only, whereupon were few or no Soldiers: excused also that the Parliament had not given notice of their coming, for that he feared it would be de∣clared and known to the Hollander, and then they with force would watch for them, if there had been intelligence given before, especially for that they knew the Hollander lay here with a party of Ships, so they could not adventure themselves hither with fewer ships: That the Parliament had sent no Embassador hither, they desired it might not be ill taken, for their thoughts abounded in friendship towards his Majesty, and had honorably received his Embassadors, and also well deported themselves towards his Sub∣jects; so that it was not forborn, for any other reason, but for that their former Messengers, sent to Holland and Spain, were ill∣entreated and slain; whereupon the Parliament resolved to send no more Embassadors abroad till further considerations: also de∣claring, that the Hollanders had in many ways delt ill with them, so they had good cause to be aware of them, that they might not in process of time mock them: and after we had answered them such things as were necessary, according to our Instructions, and their former desire of quick expedition again repeated, we took our leaves of them, and went presently to his Majesty to Ibstrup, and after to the Privy Councel, and delivered in both places verbal relation of what had passed.