Complex sentence: Davies always looked at Ireland as a stepping-stone towards major political office in England but he knew that his chances were hurt by the death of his patron, Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, and his absence from the court.
Split into simpler sentences: Davies always looked at Ireland as a stepping-stone towards major political office in England. But, he knew that his chances were hurt by the death of his patron, Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbry, and his absence from the court.