The autumn of 840 produced an exceptional harvest, featuring, in particular, an abundant apple crop. Together with almost two years of peace in Kent, when there were no reports of Viking raids, the yield and gathering in of the fruit encouraged Asculf to ride to Cobham. His visit was overdue and owing to the unforeseen circumstances caused by affairs of state. Given a free choice, he might have settled for fruit farming and beekeeping over political matters, but the world did not function in that way for an ealdorman.
The peaceful autumn of that year gave him the necessary respite to enjoy his estates and renew old acquaintances, although he had hardly been idle in the preceding months. The enormous income in taxes that Sondwic provided him, he had spent, faithful to Egbert’s admonition o
