Complex sentence: Although he was received cordially by the king, Houghton's luck did not hold as the town of Medina, where he was staying, burnt down one day in March, destroying much of Houghton's possessions, including his weapons and valuble navigational equipment.
Split into simpler sentences: Although he was received cordially by the king, Houghton's luck did not hold. The town of Medina, where he was staying, burnt down one day in March, destroying much of Houghton's possessions, including his weapons and valuble navigational equipment.