It is _àpropos_ of Sir Launcelot's hermit above-mentioned that the romancer complains "for in those days it was not with the guise of hermits as it now is in these days. For there were no hermits in those days, but that they have been men of worship and prowess, and those hermits held great households, and refreshed people that were in distress." We find the author of "Piers Ploughman" making the same complaint. We have, as in other cases, a little modernised his language:-- "But eremites that inhabit them by the highways, And in boroughs among brewers, and beg in churches, All that holy eremites hated and despised, (As riches, and reverences, and rich men's alms), These lollers,[100] latche drawers,[101] lewd eremites, Covet on the contrary. Nor live holy as eremites, That lived wild in woods, with bears and lions. Some had livelihood from their lineage[102] and of no life else; And some lived by their learning, and the labour of their hands. Some had foreigners for friends, that their food sent; And birds brought to some bread, whereby they lived. All these holy eremites were of high kin, Forsook land and lordship, and likings of the body. But these eremites that edify by the highways Whilome were workmen--webbers, and tailors, And carter's knaves, and clerks without grace. They held a hungry house. And had much want, Long labour, and light winnings. And at last espied That lazy fellows in friar's clothing had fat cheeks. Forthwith left they their labour, these lewd knaves, And clothed them in copes as they were clerks, Or one of some order [of monks or friars], or else prophets [eremites]." This curious extract from "Piers Ploughman" leads us to notice the localities in which hermitages were situated. Sometimes, no doubt, they were in lonely and retired places among the hills, or hidden in the depths of the forests which then covered so large a portion of the land. On the next page is a very interesting little picture of hermit life, from a MS. Book of Hours, executed for Richard II. (British Museum, Domitian, A. xvii., folio 4 v.) The artist probably intended to represent the old hermits of the Egyptian desert, Piers Ploughman's-- "Holy eremites, That lived wild in woods With bears and lions;"