 There is little documentary evidence about the nature of trade in Eadbald 's reign . It is known that the kings of Kent had established royal control of trade in the late seventh century , but it is not known how early this control began . There is archaeological evidence that suggests that the royal influence predates any of the written sources , and it may have been Eadbald 's father , Æthelberht , who took control of trade away from the aristocracy and made it a royal monopoly . The continental trade provided Kent access to luxury goods , which was an advantage in trading with the other Anglo @-@ Saxon nations , and the revenue from trade was important in itself . Kent traded locally made glass and jewelry to the Franks ; Kentish goods have been found as far south as the mouth of the Loire , south of Brittany . There was probably also a flourishing slave trade . The wealth this commerce brought to Kent may have been the basis of the continuing , though diminished , importance of Kent in Eadbald 's reign . 
