What job did the hermit have prior to becoming a hermit in Le Morte D'Arthur?

Named and unnamed hermits appear throughout Thomas Malory's epic tale Le Morte d'Arthur. It's difficult to determine which hermit is being referenced at any given time—or if one or more references are to the same hermit—since they're simply described within the story as "an hermit," or "the hermit"—and, in one instance, to "the hermit-priest," who was slain in volume 2, book 16, chapter 15.
A named hermit who appears throughout volume 2 is Nacien, who Sir Gawain called "the holiest man in this country." Nacien was the brother-in-law of King Mordrains, and Nacien counseled Sir Gawain to abandon the quest for the Holy Grail.
Others who became hermits during the story include an Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Bedivere (sometimes Sir Pedivere), and Sir Percivale of Wales (sometimes Sir Percivale de Galis).
In volume 1, book 6, chapter 17, a passing reference is made to Sir Bedivere (Pedivere) becoming a hermit.

And as it telleth in the French book, when he came to Rome, the Pope bade him go again unto Queen Guenever, and in Rome was his lady buried by the Pope's commandment. And after this Sir Pedivere fell to great goodness, and was an holy man and an hermit.

In volume 2, book 21, chapter 6, two hermits are identified as the Bishop of Canterbury, who accused Mordred of sacrilege for trying to overthrow Arthur, and Sir Bedivere, who found Arthur's body in a chapel attended by weeping women.

So there bode Sir Bedivere with the hermit that was to-fore Bishop of Canterbury, and there Sir Bedivere put upon him poor clothes, and served the hermit full lowly in fasting and in prayers.

In volume 2, book 21, chapter 13, these two are again referenced.

And then at leisure they went all with the Bishop of Canterbury to his hermitage, and there they were together more than a month. . . . And Sir Bedivere was there ever still hermit to his life's end.

In volume 2, book 17, chapter 23, Sir Percivale becomes a hermit.

When Percivale and Bors saw Galahad dead they made as much sorrow as ever did two men. And if they had not been good men, they might lightly have fallen in despair. And the people of the country and of the city were right heavy. And then he was buried; and as soon as he was buried, Sir Percivale yielded him to an hermitage out of the city, and took a religious clothing.