Complex sentence: Alcuin wrote frequently to the new Archbishop, laying down many rules for the direction of his province, and sent to York, amongst other gifts, a ship load of metal (stagnum) for the roofing of the bell tower at York Minster.
Split into simpler sentences: Alcuin wrote frequently to the new Archbishop, laying down many rules for the direction of his province. He sent many gifts to York, including a shipload of metal (stagnum) for the roof of the bell tower at York Minster.