Within the first few weeks of November 1640, at the beginning of the Long Parliament, Thomas Hobbes left England for the continent. Early proceedings, particularly Pym's long catalogue of grievances on 7 November and the impeachment of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, seem to have inspired much fear in Hobbes. In a letter written several months later, dated 12 April 1641 and addressed to Lord Scudamore, Hobbes described his abrupt departure: ‘I went to your Lordship's house in St Martin's, but found no body at all there, and thereupon made account to come again a day or two after, but in the meantime I was seized so violently with a resolution of coming hither, as I departed within 3 days after, making nobody acquainted but my Lord, and one of his servants who was to send the little money I had after me by exchange and to see my trunk shipped.’ Hobbes then explained: ‘The reason I came away was that I saw words that tended to advance the prerogative of kings began to be examined in Parliament. And I knew some that had a good will to have had me troubled, and might for any thing I saw in their honesties make both the words and the witnesses. Besides I thought if I went not then, there was nevertheless a disorder coming on that would make it worse being there than here.’