Complex sentence: The Dutch responded to the growing intimidation by enlisting large numbers of armed merchantmen into their navy; on 29 May 1652 Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp refused to show respectful haste in lowering his flag to salute an encountered English fleet.
Split into simpler sentences: The Dutch responded to the growing intimidation by enlisting large numbers of armed merchantmen into their navy. On 29 May 1652, Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp refused to show the respectful haste expected in lowering his flag to salute an encountered English fleet.