In 1621 he travelled abroad and served in the Dutch defence of Bergen op Zoom. Later he continued to England, France and Italy before returning home where he served as an ensign under Enevold Kruse in the Danish branch of the Thirty Years' War in 1625 and 1626. He was taken as a prisoner of war by Tilly at Battle of Lutter on 27 August 1626 but was part of an exchange of prisoners on 10 December.