4, 
‘towards the Presbyterian plan; and it is probable that a newly 
modelled or reformed service, having a like tendency, was early in 
use at Wrington. Mr. Crooke was the first to introduce into his 
neighbourhood and parish, conceived prayer, i.¢., extemporary 
prayer, presumably conceived at the moment of utterance. In 
this practice he excelled, being “free from impertinent expres- 
sions, and vain repetitions; rich in piercing supplications and 
pathetical thanksgiving ; prompt and full in expressing the feel- 
ings to the bottom of their hearts” of those who joined with 
him, so that “their souls seemed to have entered into his,.”* 
At length in June, 1643, the Parliament fully adopted the 
Presbyterian as the national system, and took the Solemn League 
and Covenant, by which they swore to establish it, and to oppose 
and not even to tolerate any other. This Covenant was sent into 
every village, and every man was expected to swear and sign it. 
As will be seen presently under his own hand, Mr. Crooke was 
one of those who did so. 
At the commencement of the war, Somerset kept fairly free 
from any enemy, and was willingly obedient to all votes and 
orders of the Parliament. But after the great drawn fight on 
Lansdown, on the 5th July, 1643, followed in a few days by the 
absolute royalist victory on Roundway, near Devizes, the whole 
county was brought under the power of the king, was quickly 
occupied by his forces, and his majesty at once issued a Commission 
.for reducing to obedience all his opponents in the west. 
On Thursday, the 21st September, the Commissioners favoured 
Wrington with their notice, and Mr. Samuel Crooke was compelled 
to appear before them. ‘The result of the interview was that he 
found it necessary to submit to the powers that were, and as a 
testimony of his new obedience he openly subscribed the following 
_Eight Articles :— 
1.—That all armes taken up by the Subject against the King, 
including the person as well as His power, is unlawful. 
* Antho, 
