Complex sentence: During this period Richard began to receive disturbing news of the activities of his brother John and of Philip Augustus, and as the spring gave way to summer it became evident that Richard would have to return soon to Europe to safeguard his own interests there.
Split into simpler sentences: During this period Richard began to receive disturbing news of the activities of his brother John and Philip Augustus. As the spring gave way to summer it became evident that Richard would have to return soon to Europe to safeguard his own interests there.