but within a year he sold all that he had and gave the money
to the poor. He then retired into solitude near Coma, passing his time
in manual labour, prayer, and study. Later, he went farther into the
wilderness, and lived in a cave. Satan is said to have tempted him by
sending spirits to him, disguised as beautiful women. Finding this
ineffectual, it is related that the Evil One made a violent attack on
him, and beat him so severely that he left him for dead. At the age of
ninety he heard of another hermit (St. Paul the Hermit), and made a
journey to visit him. St. Paul died soon after this meeting, and St.
Anthony, aided by two lions, buried him. In his 105th year he told some
of his disciples that he was going to die; then, accompanied by a few
monks, he retired deeper into the wilderness, where he died, having
first obtained a promise that they would keep the place of his burial
secret.

(In the time of Innocent IV. all hermits who lived under no recognised
discipline were incorporated and reduced under the rule of St.
Augustine.)

THE LEGEND OF ST. ANTHONY

1. Of Anton story who lyste to here
In Egypt was he bornt as doyth aper.

2. Her is he babtyd, Anton they hym call
Gret landes and renttes to hym doeth fawl.

3. As scoler to the kyrk here is he gayn
To here the sermontt and aftyr itt he's tayn.

4. Here geyffith he to the kyrk boith land and rent
To leve in povert is hys intent.

5. Here in Agello to oon oulde man he wentt
To lerne perfeccion is hys intent.

6. Here makyth he breder as men of relig',
And techyth them vertu to leve in perfecco.

7. Here to the wyldernes as armet geon he
And thus temptyth hym covytice with oon gold dyshie.

8. The sprytt of fornycacon to h[~y] her doth apper
And thus he chastith his body with thorne and brer.

9. The devill thus hat h[~y] wounded w_t lance and staf
And levyth h[~y] for deyd lyying at his cayf

10. Here Crist haith hym helyd the devill he doth away
And comfortyd his confessor deyd as he lay

11. Here comands he y^{is} bests and ffast away th_a flie
Y^e bor h[~y] obbays and w^{th} h[~y] bydeds he.

12. Here makyth he a well and water hath uptayne
And comforted hys breder thyrst was nere slayn.

13. Here commandith he best to make h[~y] a cayf
And thus he berys Paulyn and lay h[~y] in graf

14. Thus walked he over the flode w