What caused Defoe's exile from England?

Daniel Defoe was exiled from England primarily due to his political writings and his criticism of the government. In 1703, he was imprisoned for seditious libel after publishing a pamphlet that attacked the authorities, particularly in relation to the Church of England. Although he was not formally exiled, he faced significant legal and financial repercussions, which led him to spend time in hiding and living abroad to avoid further conflict with the government. His experiences during this period influenced much of his later literary work.