Complex sentence: While Narváez was away on this mission, Martínez performed an elaborate ceremony of possession at Nootka and soon after fought a brawl with the British Captain James Colnett, had him imprisoned, and seized several English ships and their crews.
Split into simpler sentences: While Narváez was away, Martínez performed an elaborate ceremony of possession at Nootka. Soon after he fought a brawl with the British Captain James Colnett, had him imprisoned, and seized several English ships and their crews.