Complex sentence: He agreed to article himself, both as actor and musician, to Beard for three years at a salary rising from three to five pounds a week: however his contract established a precedent by which actors were not paid in case of absence through sickness.
Split into simpler sentences: He agreed to article himself, both as actor and musician, to Beard for three years at a salary rising from three to five pounds a week. However, his contract established a precedent by which actors were not paid in case of absence through sickness.