Complex sentence: He was an intelligent and educated man, fluent in several languages, and trained as a lawyer, but chose instead to become a soldier, fighting for England in the Low Countries, France, and possibly in Central Europe.
Split into simpler sentences: He was an intelligent and educated man, fluent in several languages, and trained as a lawyer. Despite his qualifications he became a soldier, fighting for England in the Low Countries, France, and possibly in Central Europe.