Conceived as a series of exchanges between a vice and its opposite virtue, the text presents each vice inducing man to sin according to its particular nature, and each virtue contrasting this exhortation with moral advice, mostly taken from the Scriptures. The manuscript ascribes the text to Saint Ambrose (c. 340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church, but it has been variously attributed to Augustine of Hippo, Isidore of Seville and other authoritative Christian writers. The correct attribution, however, is to a different Ambrose: Ambrosius Autpertus (or Ambrose Autpert, c. 730 - 484), Frankish Benedectine monk who acted as abbot of the abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno (Molise, Southern Italy). For the text, see Patrologia Latina 40, columns 1091-1106 (Saint Augustine); Patrologia Latina 17, columns 1057-1074 (Saint Ambrose of Milan); Patrologia Latina 83, columns 1131-1144 (Saint Isidore of Seville); Patrologia Latina 143, columns 559-578 (Pope Leo IX).

The text begins on f. 71r. Is introduced by the rubric Incipit liber sancti Ambrosii episcopi de viciorum et virtutum and it begins with the words Apostolica vox clamat per orbem atque in procinctu viri [underlined in red] fidei positis.

It ends on f. 80r with the words cuius nos faciat particeps esse simul et heredes. Qui est benedictus in secula seculorum. Amen.. It is followed by the rubric DEO GRATIAS AMEN / Nobis septem opera. Pietatis humana ministrat. / Pasce famem. Potato sitim. Nudos amicito. / Vise egros opibus peregrinos hospes habeto. / Solvito carceribus defunctum corpus humato.

Musical notations and a few inscriptions have been added later by a different hand at the bottom of f. 80r and on f. 80v.