¶ But now to my matter retourne agayn
 ¶ And tu begyn new where I left.
 ¶ whan al the goddis had done her besy payne.
 ¶ The way to contryue how it shuld be reft
 ¶ Of his lyf Attropos had no cause eft
 ¶ To compleyn than Phebus stert vpon her fete /
 ¶ And sayd I pray you let me speke a word yet
¶ Othea menyth wel to say on this wyse
 ¶ But al to entret Neptunus i hope shal not nede
 ¶ Me semyth I alone durst take that entesprise.
 ¶ Er I am begyled or ellis I shal spede
 ¶ How say ye Neptunus shal I do this dede.
 ¶ Wy[l] ye your rancour seale at my request
 ¶ Madame quod he reule me as ye lykyth best
¶ Gr[a]mercy sayd she of your good wyll
 ¶ That it pleysyth you to shew me that fauorus
 ¶ Wherfore the goddys hygh pleysur to fulfyll
 ¶ Performe my desyre & leue al olde rancoure
 ¶ For our elders wele & sauyng of oure honour
 ¶ Agayn this colus that ye long haue had
 ¶ It is done quod he forsoth than am I gladd
¶ Sayd he now than Colus be thou to vs trewe
 ¶ Kepe well the eyr and oure grete rebell
 ¶ May we than sone euer to vs subdew
 ¶ Yes and that quod Colus shall here tell
 ¶ Nowhere in the eyr shall he rest nor dwel
 ¶ If he do therof put me in the faute
 ¶ Wyth my bytter blastes so shal I hym asaut
¶ What sayd the god Pluto what is his name.
 ¶ That thus presumyth agayn vs to rebell
 ¶ Vertu quod attropes that haue he mykyl shame
 ¶ He is neuer confounded thus of hym here I tell
 ¶ A sayd this pluto in dede I know hym wel
 He hath ben euer myn vtter ennemye
 ¶ Wherfore this mater agayn hym take wyll I
¶ For all the baytes that we for hym haue layde
 ¶ Wythout my helpe be not worth a pere
 ¶ For though ye all the contrary had sayd
 ¶ yet wold he brede right nigh your althris ere
 ¶ No maner of thynge can hym hurt or dere
 ¶ Saue only a sone of my bastard
 ¶ Whos name is vice he kepyth my vawarad.
¶ Wherfore you Cerberus now I the charge
 ¶ Of Colus & wyl that thou heder fet
 ¶ My dere sone Vyce & say that I hym charge.
 ¶ That he to me come without ony let
 ¶ Armed at all poyntes for a day is set
 ¶ That he with Vertu for al the goddis sake
 ¶ In our defence must on hym batayl take.
¶ Forth then went Cerberus with his fyry chein
 ¶ Brought thyder vyce as he commaunded was
 ¶ Agayn noble Vertu that batayl to dercygne
 ¶ On a glydyng serpent rydynge a grete pace
 ¶ Formed lyke a dragon scaled hard as glas
 ¶ whoos mouth flammed fyre without fayll
 ¶ wyngis had it serpentyne & a long tayll
¶ Armed was vyce all in cure boyll
 ¶ Harde as horne blacker fer than sute
 ¶ An vngoodly sort folowed hym perde
 ¶ Of vnhappy capteyns of myschyfe crop & rot
 ¶ Pryde was the fyrst that next hym rode god wote
 ¶ On a roryng Lyon next whome came Enuye
 ¶ Syttyng on wolfe he had a scornful eye
¶ Wrath bestrode a wyld bore & next hym gan ride.
 ¶ In his hond he bare a blody swerd
 ¶ Next whom cam couetise that goth so fer & wide
 ¶ Rydyng on a Olyfaunt as he had ben a ferd
 ¶ After whom rode Gloteny wyth his fat berd
 ¶ Syttyng on a bere wyth his grete bely
 ¶ And next hym on a gote folowed Lechery
¶ Sloth was so slepy he came all behynd
 ¶ On a dull asse a full wery pase
 ¶ Thyse were the capteins that vyce coud fynde
 ¶ Best to set his feld & folow on the chase
 ¶ As for pety capteyns many mo there was
 ¶ As sacrylege symony & dyssymulacyon
 ¶ Manslaughter mordre theft & extorcyon
¶ Arrogaunce Presumpcyon wyth contumaci
 ¶ Contempcyon Contempt & Inobedyence
 ¶ Maly[s]e Frowardnes grete Ielasy
 ¶ wodnes Hate Stryf and Impacyence
 ¶ Vnkyndnes Oppressyon with wofull neglygence.
 ¶ Murmur Myschef Falshod & detraccyon
 ¶ Vsury Periury Ly and adulacyon
¶ Wrong Rauyne Sturdy vyolence
 ¶ Fals Iugement with Obstynacyon
 ¶ Dysceyt Dronknes & Improuydence.
 ¶ Boldnes in yll with foule and Rybaudy.
 ¶ Fornycacyon Incest and Auoutry
 ¶ Vnshamfastnes with Prodygalyte
 ¶ Blasfeme vaynglory & worldly vanyte
¶ Ignoraunce Dyffydence with Ipocrysy
 ¶ Scysme Rancour Debate and Offence
 ¶ Heresy Errour with Idolatry.
 ¶ New fangylnes and sotyll false Pretence
 ¶ Inordynat desyre of worldly excellence
 ¶ Fayned pouerte wyth apostasy
 ¶ Dysclaunder scorn & vnkynd Ielousy
¶ Hoordom baudry false mayntenaunce
 ¶ Treyson abusyon and pety brybry
 ¶ Vsurpacyon with horryble vengaunce
 ¶ Came alder last of that company
 ¶ All thyse pety capetayns folowed by and by.
 ¶ Shewyng theymself in the paleyse wyde
 ¶ And say they were redy that batayl to abyde
¶ Idylnes set the comyns in aray
 ¶ Without the palayse on a fayr felde
 ¶ But there was an ost for to make a fray
 ¶ I trow suche a nother neuer man beheld
 ¶ Many was the wepyn among hem that they weld
 ¶ What they were that came to that dysporte
 ¶ I shall you declare of many a sondry sort
¶ There were bosters crakers & brybours
 ¶ Praters sasers strechers and wrythers
 ¶ Shamefull shakelers soleyn slauedours
 ¶ Oppressours of people and myghty crakers
 ¶ Mayntenours of quarels horryble lyers
 ¶ Theues traytours with false heretykes
 ¶ Charmars sorcerers & many scysmatykes.
¶ Preuy symonyakes wyth false vsurers
 ¶ Multyplyers coyn wasshers & clyppers
 ¶ Wrong vsurpers wyth grete extorcyoners
 ¶ Bacbyters Glosers and fayre flaterers.
 ¶ Malycyous murmurers with grete claterers
 ¶ Tregetours Tryfelers Feyners of tales·
 ¶ Lastyuous lurdeyns and Pykers of malys.
¶ Rouners Vagabundes Forgers & lesingis.
 ¶ Robbers Reuers Rauenous Ryfelers.
 ¶ Choppers of Chyrches Fynders of tydynges
 ¶ Merrers of maters and mony makers.
 ¶ Stalkers by nyght wyth Euysdroppers.
 ¶ Fyghters Brawlers Brekers of louedayes
 ¶ Getters Chyders Causers of frayes.
¶ Tytyuyllis Tyrauntis with Tourmentours.
 ¶ Corsyd apostatis Relygyous dyssymulers:
 ¶ Closshers Carders wyth comon hasardours.
 ¶ Tyburne colops and Purskytters.
 ¶ Pylary knyghtys double tollyng Myllers.
 ¶ Gay Ioly tapters with hostelers of the stewes.
 ¶ Hores and Bawdes that many bale brewes
¶ Bold blasfemers wyth false Ipocrytes.
 ¶ Brothellers Brokers abhomynable swerers.
 ¶ Dryuylls Dastardes dyspysers of ryghtis
 ¶ Homycydes Poyseners & comon morderers
 ¶ Scoldis Caytyues Comberous clappers.
 ¶ Idolatres Enchauntors with false regenates.
 ¶ Sotyl ambydextrys and sekeers of debatis.
¶ Pseudo Prophetes false Sodemytes.
 ¶ Quesmers of chyldren wyth fornycatours.
 ¶ wetewoldes that suffre syn in their syghtis.
 ¶ Auoutrers and abhomynable auauntours.
 ¶ Of syn grete clappers & makers of clamours
 ¶ Vnthryftes & vnlustes came al to that game
 with luskis & loselis that might not thryue for shame
¶ These were the comons that came thider that day.
 ¶ Redy bowne in batayl Vertu to abyde.
 ¶ Apollo theym beholdyng began to say·
 ¶ To the goddys & goddesses beyng there that tide
 ¶ Me semyth conuenyent an herowd to ryde
 ¶ To Vertu & byde hym to batayl make hym boune
 ¶ Hymself to defend forsoth it shal be sone.
¶ And let hym not be sodeynly take.
 ¶ All dyspur[u]eyed or that he beware.
 ¶ For than shold our dyshonour awake.
 ¶ If he were cowardly take in a snare.
 ¶ Ee quod Vyce for that haue I no care.
 ¶ I wyll auauntage take where I may.
 ¶ That heryng Morpleus preuely stale away.
¶ And went to warne Vertu of al this afray.
 ¶ And bad hym awake and make hymself strong
 ¶ For he was lyke to endure that daye.
 ¶ A grete mortall shoure er it were euensonge.
 with Vyce wherfore he bad hym not longe.
 ¶ Tary to send after more socoure.
 ¶ If he dyde it shold torne hym to dolour.
¶ And brefely the mater to he declared.
 ¶ Lyke as ye haue herd begynnyng and ende.
 ¶ Well quod Vertu he shall not be spared
 ¶ To the feld I wyl go how it wende.
 ¶ But gramercy Morpleus myn own dere frende
 ¶ Of your trew hert & faythfull entente.
 ¶ That ye in this mater to meward haue ment.
¶ This done Morpleus departed away.
 ¶ Fro Vertu to the palayse retornyng agayn.
 ¶ None hym aspyed that I dare well say.
 ¶ In whych tyme Vertu dyde his besy payn
 ¶ People to reyse his quarell to maynteyn.
 ¶ Ymagynacyon was his messengere.
 ¶ He went to warne people both fer & nere.
¶ And bad hem come in all hast they myght
 ¶ For to strength Vertu for wyth out fayll.
 ¶ He sayd he shold haue long or it were nyght.
 ¶ Wyth Vyce to do a myghty strong batayl.
 ¶ Of vngracyous gestes he bryngyth a gret tayll
 ¶ Wherfore it behouyth to help at this nede.
 ¶ And after this shal Vertu rewar yore mede
¶ Whan ymagynacyon had gone his cyrcuyte
 ¶ To Vertue & frendis thus all about.
 ¶ Wythin short tyme many men of myght
 ¶ Gadered to Vertu in all that they myght.
 ¶ They hym comforted & bad hym put no doute.
 ¶ His vtter enmy Vyce to ouerthrowe.
 ¶ Thoughe he with hym brought neuer so gret arow
¶ And whan Vertu se the sustaunce of his oost
 ¶ He prayed all the comons to the feld hem hye
 ¶ Wyth her pety capteyns both lest and moste
 ¶ And wyth his capteyns shold folow redely.
 ¶ For he sayd he knew well that vyce was ful nye.
 ¶ And who myght fyrst of the feld recouer the centre
 ¶ Wold kepe out that other he shuld not esely entre
¶ Then sent he forth Baptym to the feld before
 ¶ And prayed hym hartely it to ouerse·
 ¶ That no maner trayn nor coltrop therin wore
 ¶ To noy nor hurt hym nor his meyne.
 ¶ And whan he thyder came he began to se.
 ¶ How Vyce his purseua[u]nt cryme orygynall.
 ¶ Was entred before and had seased vp all.
¶ But as sone as herof Baptym had a syght.
 ¶ He fled fast away and left the feld alone.
 ¶ And anone Baptym entred wyth his myght.
 ¶ Serchyng al about where this cryme had gone
 ¶ But the feld was clene defaut found he none.
 ¶ Then came Vertu after with his gret oste.
 ¶ And his myghty capteyns both lest and most
¶ But to enfourme you how he thyder came.
 ¶ And what maner capteins he to the feld brought
 ¶ Hymselfe sekerly was the fyrst man.
 ¶ Of all his grete host that thyderwarde sought.
 ¶ Syttyng in a chare that rychely was wrought.
 ¶ Wyth golde and peerles & gemmes precyous.
 ¶ Crowned with laurer as lord vyctoryous.
¶ Foure doubty knyghtes about the chare went.
 ¶ At euery corner one hit for to gyde.
 ¶ And conuey accordyng to Vertue his entent.
 ¶ At the fyrst corner was Ryghtwysnesse that tyde.
 ¶ Prudence at the seconde was set to abyde.
 ¶ At the thryd strength the fourth kept temperaunce.
 ¶ These the chare gyded to Vertue his pleasaunce.
¶ Next to the chare seuen capyteyns there roode.
 ¶ Echone aftre other in ordre by and by.
 ¶ Humylyte was the fyrst a lambe he bestroode.
 ¶ With contenaunce demure he rood full soberly.
 ¶ A fawcon gentyll stood on his helme on hy.
 ¶ And next after hym came there Charyte.
 ¶ Rydyng on a tygre as fyll to his degre.
¶ Roody as a roose ay he kept his chere.
 ¶ On his helme on hyghe a pellycan he bare.
 ¶ Next whom cam pacyence that no where hath no pere
 ¶ On a camell rydyng as voyde of all care.
 ¶ A fenix on his helm stood so forth gan he fare.
 ¶ Who next hym folowed but lyberalyte.
 ¶ Syteng on a dromedary that was both good & fre.
¶ On his helm for his crest he bare on ospray.
 ¶ And next after hym folowed abstynence.
 ¶ Rydyng on an hete was trapure and gay.
 ¶ He semed a lorde of ryght grete excellence.
 ¶ A popyniay was his crest he was of gret dyfferece.
 ¶ Next hym folowed chastyte on an vnicorne.
 ¶ Armed at all poyntes behynde & beforne.
¶ A tortyldoue he bare on hyghe for his crest.
 ¶ Than came good besynesse last of the seuen.
 ¶ Rydyng on a panter a sondry coloured best.
 ¶ Gloryously beseen as he had come from heuen.
 ¶ A crane on his hede stood his crest for to steuen.
 ¶ All these .vii. capteyned had standardis of pryce.
 ¶ Eche of hem accordyng after his deuyse.
¶ Many pety capteyns after these went.
 ¶ As trew feyth & hope mercy pease & pyte.
 ¶ Ryght trouth mekenesse with rood ente[n]t.
 ¶ Goodnes concorde & parfyte vnyte.
 Honest trewe loue with symplycyte.
 ¶ Prayer fastyng preuy almysdede.
 ¶ Ioyned with the artycles of the crede.
¶ Confessyon contrycyon & satysfaccyon.
 ¶ With sorow for synne & grete repentaunce.
 ¶ Foryeuenesse of trespas with good dysposycyon.
 ¶ Resystence of wrong performyng of penance.
 ¶ Holy deuocyon wyth good contynaunce
 ¶ Presthode hem folowed with the sacramentis
 ¶ And sadnesse alse wyth the commaundementes
¶ Suffraunce in trouble wyth Innocensy
 ¶ Clennes contynence and virgynyte
 ¶ Kyndnes reuerence with curteysy
 ¶ Content & pleased wyth pyteous pouerte
 ¶ Entendyng wel mynystryng equyte
 ¶ Twene ryght & wrong hole indyfferently
 ¶ And labouryng the seruyse of god to multyply
¶ Refuse of ryches & worldly vaynglory
 ¶ Perfeccyon wyth perfyght contemplacyon
 ¶ Relygyon professyon wel kept in memory
 ¶ Verry drede of god wyth holy predycacyon
 ¶ Celestyall sapyence wyth gostly inspyracyon
 ¶ Grace was the guyde of al this meyne
 ¶ Whome folowed konnyng with his genealogy
¶ That is to say gramer and Sophystry
 ¶ Phylosophy naturall logyke and Rythoryke
 ¶ Arsmetrycke geometry wyth astronomye
 ¶ Canon and Cyuyll melodyous musyke
 ¶ Noble Theology and corporal physyke
 ¶ Moralyzayson of holy scrypture
 ¶ Profound poetry and drawyng of pycture
¶ Thyse folowed connyng & thyder wyth hin cam
 ¶ Wyth many one mo offryng her seruyse
 ¶ To Vertu at that nede but notwythstondyng than
 ¶ Some he refused and sayd in nowyse
 ¶ They shuld wyth hym go & as I coud auyse
 ¶ Thyse wore her names fyrst Nygrommancy
 ¶ Geomansy magyke and glotony
¶ Adryomansy Ornomancy with pyromancy
 ¶ Fysenomy also and pawmestry
 ¶ And al her sequeles yf I shal not lye
 ¶ Yet connyng prayed Vertu he wold not deny
 ¶ Theym for to know nor dysdeyn his eye
 ¶ On hem to loke wherto Vertu graunted
 ¶ How be it in his werres ge wold not they haunted
¶ So had they connyng lyghly to depart
 ¶ From Vertu his feld and they seyng this
 ¶ By comyn assent hyred them a carte
 ¶ And made hem be caryed toward Vyce Iwys.
 ¶ Fro thens forth to serue hym this wold not mys
 ¶ For loth they were to be maysterles
 ¶ In stede of the better the worse there they ches
¶ But forth to relese al the remenaunt
 ¶ Of pety capteins that wyth Vertu were
 ¶ Moderate dyet and wysdom auenant
 ¶ Euen weyght and mesure ware of contagyous gere
 ¶ Loth to offend and louyng ay to lere
 ¶ Worshyp and profyte with myrth in maner
 ¶ Thyse pety capteyns wyth Vertu were in fere
¶ Comons hem folowed a grete multitude
 ¶ But in came pyson to that other syde
 ¶ I trow there was not brefely to conclude.
 ¶ The .x. man that batayl to abyde.
 ¶ Yet neuertheles I shal not from you hyde.
 ¶ what maner people they were & of what secte
 ¶ As nere as my wyt therto wyll me derect.
¶ There were noble and famous doctours.
 ¶ Example yeuers of lyuyng gracyous.
 ¶ Perpetuel prestes and dyscrete confessours.
 ¶ Of holy scrypture declarers fructuous.
 ¶ Rebukers of syn & myscheues odyous.
 ¶ Fysshers of soules & louers of clennes.
 ¶ Dyspysers of veyn and worldly rychesse.
¶ Peasyble prelatys Iustycyal gouernours.
 ¶ Founders of chyrches wyth mercyfull peres.
 ¶ Reformers of wrong of her progenytours
 ¶ On peynfull pore pyteous compassyoners
 ¶ well menyng marchauntes with trew artefecers
 ¶ Vyrgyns pure and also Innocentes
 ¶ Hooly matrones with chast contynence
¶ Pylgrymes & palmers with trew laborers
 ¶ Holy heremytes goddys solycytours
 ¶ Monesteryal monkes & well dysposed freres
 ¶ Chanons and nonnes feyth professoures
 ¶ Of worldly people trew coniugatours.
 ¶ Louers of Cryst Confounders of yll.
 ¶ And all that to godward yeue her good wyll
¶ Mayntenours of ryghte verey penytentes.
 ¶ Dystroyers of errour causers of vnyte.
 ¶ Trew actyf lyuers that set her ententis
 ¶ The dedis to performe of mercy and pyte
 ¶ Contemplatyf people that desyre to be.
 ¶ Salytary seruauntis vnto god alone.
 ¶ Rather then to habound in rychesses echone.
¶ Thyse wyth many mo than I reherce can
 ¶ were come thyder redy that batayl to abyde.
 ¶ And take such part as fyl to Vertu than
 ¶ Vyce to ouerco[m]e they hoped for al his pride
 ¶ Al though he had more people on his syde
 ¶ For the men that Vertu had were ful sure.
 ¶ To trust on at nede & connyng in armure
¶ Macrocosme was the name of the feld
 ¶ where this grete batayll was set for to be
 ¶ In the myddys therof stode consyence & beheld
 ¶ whyche of hem shold be brought to captyuyte
 ¶ Of that noble tryumph Iuge wold he be
 ¶ Synderesys sate hym wythin closed as a park
 with his table in his honde her dedys to marke.
¶ To come in to the feld were hygh wayes .v.
 ¶ Fre to both partyes large brode and wyde
 ¶ Vertu wold not tari but highed hym thyder bliue
 ¶ Lest he were by vyce deceyued at that tyde
 ¶ Long out of the feld loth was he to abyde
 ¶ In auenture that he out of it were kept.
 For than wold he haue thought he hade to long slept
¶ In this mene tyme whyle Vertu thus proceded
 ¶ For hym & his people the feld for to wynne.
 ¶ He charged euery man by grace to be guyded
 ¶ And al that euer myght the feld to enter ynne.
 ¶ In all that season went orygynal synne.
 ¶ To let Vyce know how Baptym with his hoste.
 Had entred Macrocosme & serched euery cooste
¶ A sayd Vyce I se well it is tyme.
 ¶ Baners to dysplay & standardes to auaunce.
 ¶ Al most to long haddest thou taryed cryme.
 ¶ To let vs haue knolege of this purueyaunce.
 ¶ yet I trow I shal lerne hem a new daunce.
 ¶ Wherfore I commaund you al without delaye
 ¶ Toward the felde draw in all the hast ye may
¶ Than sayd the god Pluto that al men myght here
 ¶ Vyce I the charge as thou wylt eschew.
 ¶ Our heuyous Indyngnacyon thou draw not arere
 ¶ But put the forth boldly to ouerthrowe Vertu.
 ¶ In fayth quod Attropos & I shal after sew /
 ¶ For yf he escape oure hondys this day.
 ¶ I tell you my seruyse haue lost for ay.
¶ Forth than rode Vyce with al his hole strength
 ¶ On his stede serpentyne as i told you byfore.
 ¶ The ost that hym folowed was of a grete length.
 ¶ Among whom were penouns & g[u]yters mani a score[1]
 ¶ Of hys pety capteynes he made many a knight
 ¶ For they shuld not fle but manly with him fight
¶ He doubed Falshod with Dyssymylacyon.
 ¶ Symony Vsury Wrong and Rybawdy.
 ¶ Malyce Deceyt Lye wythout Extorcyon.
 ¶ Periury Dyffydence and Apostasy.
 ¶ Wyth boldnes in yl to bere hym company.
 ¶ Thyse .xiiii. knyghtes made vyce that daye.
 ¶ To wyn her spores they sayd they wold assay
¶ In lyke wyse Vertu doubed on his syde:
 ¶ Of pety capteyns other fourtene.
 ¶ Whyche made her auou wyth hym to abyde:
 Her spores wold they wyn that day shold it be sene
 ¶ Thyse wore her names yf it be as I wene
 ¶ Feyth Hope & Mercy Trouth & also Ryght.
 with Resystence of wronge a full hardy wyghte
¶ Confessyon Contrycyon wyth Satysfaction
 ¶ Verrey drede of God Performyng of penaunce
 ¶ Perfeccyon Connyng and Good dyspocision
 ¶ And all knyt to Vertu they were by alyauns
 ¶ Wherfore to hym they made assuraunce.
 ¶ That feld to kepe as long as they myght.
 ¶ And in his quarel agayn Vyce to fyght.
¶ The lord of Macrocosme & rewler of the fee
 ¶ Was called Frewyll chaunger of the chaunce:
 ¶ To whome Vertu sent embassatours thre
 ¶ Reson dyscresyon & good remembraunce.
 ¶ And prayed hym be fauorable his honoure to enhans
 ¶ For but he had his fauour at the poynt of nede·
 ¶ He stood in gret doute he coude not lightly spede.
¶ In lyke wyse Vyce embassatours thre.
 ¶ For his party vnto Frewyll sent.
 ¶ Temptacyon foly & sensualyte.
 ¶ Prayng hym of fauour that he wolde assent.
 ¶ To hym as he wolde at his commaundement.
 ¶ Haue hym eftsones whan he lyst to call.
 ¶ On hym for ony thyng that afterward myght fall.
¶ Answere yaue he none to neyther party.
 ¶ Saue oonli he sayd the batayll wolde he se
 ¶ To wete whiche of hym shold haue the vyctory.
 ¶ Hit hyng in his balaunce the ambyguyte.
 ¶ He sayd he wolde not restrayne his lyberte.
 ¶ Whan he come where sorow shold awake.
 ¶ Than it shold be know what part he wyl take
¶ Whan Vertu & Vyce be her ambassatours.
 ¶ Knew of this answere they stood in gret doute.
 Neuertheles they seyd they wold endure tho shours
 ¶ And make an ende shortly of that they went aboute.
 ¶ Soo forth came Vyce with all his grete route.
 ¶ Er he came at the felde he sent yet priuely.
 ¶ Sensualyte before in maner of a spy.
¶ Whiche sewe the felde with his vnkynde seede.
 ¶ That caused Vertu after mykyll woo to feele
 ¶ For therof grewe nought but all oonly weede.
 ¶ Whiche made the grounde as sleper as an yele.
 ¶ He went ayene to vice & tolde hym euery dele.
 ¶ How he had done and bad hym come a way.
 ¶ For he had so purueyde that vyce sholde haue the day
¶ Soo as it happed at that felde they mete.
 ¶ Frewyll vertu and vice as tripartite.
 ¶ Saaf vertu a litil before the felde had gete.
 ¶ And ellis his auantage forsoth had be ful lyght
 ¶ Not for then encombred so was neuer wyght.
 ¶ As vertu & his men were with the ranke wede
 ¶ That in the felde grew of sensualitees sede
¶ But as soone as vyce of vertu had a syght.
 ¶ He gan swage gonnes as he had be woode
 ¶ That heryng vertu commaunded euery wyght
 ¶ To pauyce hym vnder the sygne of the rode.
 ¶ And bad hem not drede but kepe styll where thy stode.
 ¶ It was but a shour shold sone confounde
 ¶ wherfore he commaunded them stand & kepe her ground
¶ And whan vyce cam nerer to the felde.
 ¶ He callyd sore for bowes & bad hem shote faste
 ¶ But vertu & hys meyny bare of with the sheld.
 ¶ Of the blyssyd Trynyte ay tyll shot was past.
 ¶ And whan shot was done vyce cam forth at last.
 ¶ Purposyng the felde wyth assaute to wyn.
 ¶ But vertu kept it long he myght not enter theryn.
¶ All that tyme Frewyll stode & hym bethought.
 ¶ To which he myght leue & what part he wold take.
 ¶ At last sensualite had hym so fer brought.
 ¶ That he sayd playnly he vertu wold forsake.
 ¶ And in vyce hys quarell all his power make.
 Nota Iwis quod reason that is not for the beste.
 ¶ Noforse sayd frewyll I wyll do as my lyst.
¶ Vertu was full heuy when he see frewyll
 ¶ Take part with vyce but yet neuerthelesse.
 ¶ He dyde that he myght the felde to kepe styll.
 ¶ Tyll vyce with frewyll so sore gan hym oppresse.
 ¶ That he was constrayned clerely by duresse.
 ¶ A lytyll tyne abacke to make abew retret.
 ¶ All thyng consydered hit was the best feet.
¶ Fyrst to remembre how vyce parte was.
 ¶ Ten ayen one strenger by lyklynesse.
 ¶ And than how frewyll was with hym alas.
 ¶ Whoo coude deme vertu but in heuynesse.
 ¶ Moreouer to thynke how that slyper grasse.
 ¶ That of sensualyte hys onkynde seede grew.
 ¶ Vnder foot in standyng encombred vertew
¶ Yet notwithstondyng vertue his men all.
 ¶ Nobelly theym bare and faught myghtyly.
 ¶ How be it the sleper grasse made many of hem fall.
 ¶ And from thense in maner departe sodenly.
 ¶ That seyng vyce his hoost began to shout & cry.
 ¶ And sayd on in Pluto name on & all is oure·
 ¶ For this day shal Vyce be made a conquerour.
¶ Thus Vertu was by myght of vyce & Frewyll
 ¶ Dryuen out of the feld it was the more pyte·
 ¶ How by it yet Baptym kept his ground styll.
 ¶ And with hym abode feyth hope & vnyte.
 ¶ And konnynge also with a grete meyne.
 ¶ Confessyon contrycyon were redy at her hond.
 ¶ And Satysfaction Vyce to wythstond.
¶ But al the tyme whyle Vertu was away.
 ¶ A myghty conflycte kept they with Vycys rout.
 ¶ And yet neuertheles for al that grete afray.
 ¶ Hope stod vpryght & feyth wold neuer lout
 ¶ And euermore sayd Baptym syres put no dout.
 ¶ Vertu shal return & haue his entent.
 ¶ This feld shal be ours or let me be shent.
¶ And whyl thyse pety capteyns sustend thus the feld
 ¶ Wyth Vertu his reward come good perseuerauns
 ¶ An hugy myghty hoost & whan he beheld.
 ¶ How Vertu hym withdrew he toke dysplesauns.
 ¶ And whan he to hym cam he sayd ye shal your chans
 ¶ Take as it fallyth wherfore returne ye must.
 ¶ Yet ones for your sake with Vyce shal I Iust.
¶ Alas that euer ye shold lese your honour.
 ¶ And therwyth also the hygh perpetuel crown.
 ¶ Which is for you kept in the celestyal tour.
 ¶ Wherfore be ye called chrystys champyon.
 ¶ How is it that ye haue noo compassyone.
 ¶ On baptyme feyth & hope konnyng & vnite.
 ¶ That stand so hard bestad & fyght as ye may see.
¶ All the tresour erthely vnder the fyrmament
 ¶ That euer was made of goddys creacyon.
 ¶ To reward theym euenly were not equyualent.
 ¶ For her noble labour in his affleccyon.
 ¶ Wherfore take vpon you your Iurisdyccyon
 ¶ Rescu yonder knyghtes & recontynu fyght.
 ¶ And els a dew your crown for al your gret myght