A BATTLE Fought between a Presbyterian COCK of the Right breed, and A CRAVEN of the Independent breed.  
With the CRAVENS desire, that the quarrel may be ended, either upon Tower-Hill, or at the narrow place turning up to PADDINGTON.  
Also the sad complaint the CRAVEN made to some of his friends at his death, that he could not be buried, and ENTOMBED as Presbytery John was, he therefore only desires one of the Beadles of Bridewell to be his Excequetor.  
With the Presbyterian Cock's Epistle to the HEADSMAN.   depiction of two cocks ready for a cock-fight 
Presbyterian john revived.  
Independent Craven a dying.  
July 29 London Printed 1647.   

SIR DERRICK:  
IT is not in expectation of any future benefits, or desire of any further acquaintance with thee; that I present this to thy view. But as thou art the the chief Headsman, and a bettor at this sport against me, ha', ha'; indeed, it is thy due Cum Privilegio. And the rather considering (if I be not much mistaken) thou thyself art an Independent; (thou knowest the old saying, trust thee, and hang thee) for hadst thou the Law in thy own hand, (as may be thou hast already) thou wouldst not care how many such Cravens fall into thy pit. But now to come to thy Patient. This Craven must be cured out of hand, or else these bitter and undigested pills or pellets will go near to spoil his crowing: dost thou not hear how he rattles in his guisard, and cries out give me Liberty of Conscience to do what I list, or else I cannot continue long lived; for I cannot abide Conformity o give me Liberty, etc. Nay here will be further employment for thee, & for loan Ruggles thy wife, if thou hast one; one did I say? I do not forget, thou hadst like to have a mischance, (mean only a turn in thy own Office for having two) but that was when Bishops did rule: but now if thou hast two, thou mayst plead for thy Liberty of Conscience. But this Craven hath some Hens that follow him to his Dunghills, which are good breeders, and close sitters: As the Pheasant, and the Peacock Hens; they are very sharp beackt, hollow eyed, and long clawed; and their feathers would be very profitable to thee: and I observe by their looks they are troubled with some inward grief; which is fittest for thy wife to look after: they keep a vile chackling, they want (as the word is called) groping, for they are mad they cannot hatch up their broude of contention no faster, to teach them to cry up Liberty of Conscience, and down with Honesty. Sir, if this be not suddenly cured, it may turn to the pip, or some worse disease: so leaving you to your several Offices, being resolved never to trouble you myself.   

TO THE READER:  
READER,  
What ever thou art that shall read this small Challenge between these two Cocks, whether Presbyterian, or Independent (as I am confident thou art of one side or other) You must observe Cockpit orders; That is done, and done; If thou speak'st in the time of their encountering, thou mayst happily lose thy wager; now which side thou wilt take I know not, and indeed it is very difficult to persuade thee, especially if thou art Weather-Cockly bend; well how ever thou hast notice where this challenge is to be, and brother Presbyter I will give thee notice of one thing, to beware, for the Master of the Pit is a cunning Roock, and seeks to draw in abettors by laying too to one, that the Independent Craven will have the best of it; but I fear it not, yet if T. T. were to encounter with him, I would hold the master of the Pit myself, and his Craven too, (had I them but in a strong noose) for all he seems to flout, and say this Cocks Come hath been cut, I answer that was when might overcame right, but Craven thou wast in a worse condition then, when thou wast like to be choked with a pair of Lawn sleeves; and they could not be more odious to thee, than thou art to me, in thy odious clamerings after Liberty of Conscience, so thou hast that, thou carst not if the whole Kingdom where become a sad and disconsolate Chaos; but God-forbid, I hope there will ever be a strong and settled government to confine such Cravens as thou art: And now Craven or Capon, having observed thy dunghill motions and Crowing, and carriages, whereof there is never a one good, I profess myself thy utter enemy; and my wishes and bets shall be, that the Presbyterian Cock, who is of a fare better breed may have the better of thee; I like his weapons and carriage a great deal better than I do thine, and I tell thee, It were better thy head were off, then to live to tread thy Peacock and Pheasant Hens of thy own faction; to become as so many Dunghill Cravens, who are good for nothing but to crow at unseasonable hours; And labour daily by their Crowing and other unlawful actions to bring all to destruction; God forbidden. I know any honest Presbyterian will say Amen. Good Reader, do but observe the Impudence and insolency of this poisoned breath Craven; who not only strikes his spurs, but spits his venomous and most approbrious scoffs and jeers against many Reverend Divines, and that not of the means sort, but even of the Assembly, away Craven for shame if thou hast any, I may without much wronging of thee challenge thy fear to thy Maker, when thou so impudently abuses them that are fellow labourers with him; but it matters not what thou sayest, neither do they whom thou hast wronged: I may say truly, that their seasonable and timely Crowing have defended their young breed committed to their charge, from the Roaring of the Lion; and shall still continue I hope, when thy Satanical breed, or Dunghills of these distracted times may have their Comes cut, and their Cravenly feathers poold off their backs; It may very well be feared, that if these Dunghills, or Cravens, play so high as to strike at such lights could get the better, (which God forbidden) would soon seek to strike their poisonous beaks into the very light of truth itself; and then to walk and rule as they please, which they call Toleration, or Liberty of Conscience, that they may hatch and bring up their ungodly breed of Sectaries, as Anabaptists, Antinomians, Antiscripturists, Seekers, etc. A devilish brood, God defend us from them; these are they that hate true Reformation, and setlement of true Religion; they are as the Scripture truly renders them, of a perverse and crooked Generation, they sinell too much of the Onions and Garlic of Egypt, who outwardly make as if they were the sheep, or little flock, but inwardly devouring Wolves, and hate to be reformed.  
To conclude, Without an extraordinary sudden Antidote from heaven, to expel these loathsome smells of Sectaries, they may not only trouble us with the smell, but by their continuing, may be the cause of pulling down the plagues of Egypt upon the whole Kingdom.  
Farewell Independent CRAVEN.  
Lastly, My hearty Prayers to God for all my true hearted Brethren the Presbyterians is, That the Lord would power out upon them, and all sorts of persons in these Kingdoms a spirit of grace and supplication, that it may repent us of all our iniquities, and that we may be reconciled to the Lord; that so all the threatens of his wrath may be removed from amongst us, and he may bless us with the sweet fruits of truth and peace.   

The last WILL and TESTAMENT of the CRAVEN COCK.  
And now my dear brother and Excequetor, you see how the case stands with me, I shall trouble you but with a short Will, in regard half my estate is sequestered, for the Headsman is to have my body, my head excepted.  
Impr. I dye desire that my head may be set upon London-Bridge, with my face looking towards Horseydown, that it may be as a scarecrow to the fowls of the air, that they may not hurt none of my young Brood when they go to purge themselves of their fornication.  
Item, I do bequeath my Feathers unto some of my fellow Cravens, if in case they should fall into the like danger; they may help to cover them.  
Item, I do bequeath those two precious Stones that lie within me, among my Peacock, and Pheasant Hens; that in case their inward bowels should yearn after those secrets of nature that hath passed between us; that they may not lose the sight of them.  
Item. For my two gouty legs, I do bequeath to each Hospital one; if they can cure them, they will serve some of my brethren, that stand for Liberty of Conscience.  
Item. In the last place, for my spurs; I do freely bestow them upon those two well affected Jndependent brethren Tim. Reed, and jack. Pudding; who I am sure will stand up stiffly for Liberty and Toleration to play the fools, that they may make others laugh, and themselves get money.  
And now my dear brother and Excequotor, in case there should be nothing left for you, I shall desire Mr. Derick (he being Master of the pit) to pay you, and the rest of our Independent brethren to the full.   
FINIS.