Complex sentence: For a short time previously he had been member of parliament for the borough of Lyme Regis; in 1623 he was made lord-lieutenant of Devonshire; and in May 1627 became Earl of Bedford by the death of his cousin, Edward, the 3rd Earl.
Split into simpler sentences: For a short time previously he had been member of parliament for the borough of Lyme Regis. In 1623 he was made lord-lieutenant of Devonshire and in May 1627 became Earl of Bedford on the death of his cousin, Edward, the 3rd Earl.