After study in Padua in 1568, and travel in Europe and Asia, he entered the service of the Polish King Stephen Báthory and then of Duke Johan Frederik of Pomerania.
The English diplomat Daniel Rogers described him as the young king's overseer and steward, and a chief counsellor to Sophie, and the mouthpiece of the four governors.
The English ambassador Edward Wotton helped them because England and Denmark were allies, and told them privately that James VI had criticised Danish customs and their king Frederick II.
According to Melville, the Danish envoys considered leaving Scotland, but he persuaded them to continue and spoke to James VI in their favour.
[9] He was in London again during the visit of Christian IV in June 1606, and King James gave him a gift of silver gilt plate.
James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark attended the wedding of Henrik Ramel and Abel Rantzau (d. 1596) at Kronborg on 1 February 1590, and gave the bride 6 gold rose nobles.
[12] Daniel Rogers said the marriage was planned by Frederick II to link Ramel firmly to Danish interest.