Complex sentence: Prior to the 17th century the executive, acting on behalf of the monarch controlled all printing, granting licences to printers, during the 17th century the Crown lost most of its rights, except in regard of the King James Bible and Acts of Parliament.
Split into simpler sentences: Prior to the 17th century the executive, acting on behalf of the monarch, controlled all printing and the granting licences to printers. During the 17th century the Crown lost most of its rights, except with regard to the King James Bible and Acts of Parliament.