Complex sentence: Carol Hough (1999) They were able to hand down land, as shown in numerous wills; leaving property by means of a will was not restricted to only kin, but could also be passed to servants, churchly persons, and churches.
Split into simpler sentences: Carol Hough (1999) They were able to bequeath land, as shown in numerous wills. Leaving property by means of a will was not restricted to kin; it could also be left to servants, religious figures, and churches.