Complex sentence: Even large quantities of non-military trading goods belonging to English merchants on the island were arbitrarily confiscated and Rodney would be entangled in a series of costly lawsuits for the rest of his life.
Split into simpler sentences: Even large quantities of non-military trading goods belonging to English merchants on the island were arbitrarily confiscated. This resulted in Rodney being entangled in a series of costly lawsuits for the rest of his life.