¶ 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 & gyters 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