Chapter XXIV: Fletcher’s Marriage (2)

These details have not been given without a reason. Some ill-informed Methodists have a sort of floating idea that Fletcher’s marriage was an unequal one—that is, they seem to think that the Bosanquet family was much more respectable than that of Fletcher; and that Miss Bosanquet’s fortune was much greater than the fortune of the man who became her loving and devoted husband. Enough has been said to show the inaccuracy of this. Fletcher’s family was quite equal, in point of respectability, to the Bosanquet family, and, perhaps, superior; and his yearly income was not less than that of the lady who rejoiced to become his wife. Never was there a marriage more free from mercenariness than that of John Fletcher, of Madeley, and Mary Bosanquet, of Cross Hall, Yorkshire. It was, in the highest and purest sense, a love-match. The letters, just given, exhibit Fletcher’s affection, disinterestedness, honour, and respect for others. Miss Bosanquet had still a remnant of her fortune; but he wished the whole of this to be settled upon herself. He wished to marry her, but, before carrying out his wish, as a courteous gentleman, he asked for the approbation of her family, thereby setting a good example to his inferiors and juniors. She wished to marry him; but, shrinking from the idea of involving him in her pecuniary embarrassments, she proposed to postpone the marriage till her affairs were in a more settled state. Her family were consulted by Fletcher; and they responded in the most kind and straightforward manner. In genius, talent, and learning, Fletcher was immensely Miss Bosanquet’s superior; but, for pure, ardent, disinterested, unselfish love, it is impossible to decide which of the two was entitled to bear the palm.

Consent to the marriage having been obtained from the Bosanquet family, Fletcher made an arrangement to spend the remainder of the year with his affianced in Yorkshire. The well-known Rev. John Crosse,[545] Vicar of Bradford, took Fletcher’s pulpit at Madeley, and Fletcher took Mr. Crosse’s at Bradford.[546] To some, this may seem somewhat strange; but it must be borne in mind that Miss Bosanquet’s temporal affairs were in a most entangled state, and that it was of great importance that her Cross Hall property should be sold, and all her business assets and debts in Yorkshire satisfactorily settled before her removal to Madeley. Fletcher went to help his intended bride, and did help her; for her brother William, in a letter, written to her a fortnight after her marriage, observed, “You have done very well in disposing of your place.”[547] For months past, she had been longing and trying to turn her troublesome property into money: now she succeeded in doing so. A week after Fletcher’s arrival, “a gentleman came quite unexpectedly, and bought” the Cross Hall[548] estate “for £1,620; and, three days afterwards, another took the stock, etc.” Arrangements were also made for the locating of her domestic dependants; and she was enabled to write:—

“All was now so far settled, that I did not need to sell Leytonstone
estate. My income would afford to allow my dispersed family £55 per
year; pay the interest of the money still owing; and yet leave me such
an annual sum as was about equal to my dear Mr. Fletcher’s; and, in
case of my death, there was in Leytonstone more than would pay all.
So, on Monday, the 12th of November, 1781, in Batley Church, we
covenanted in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost, to bear each other’s burdens, and to become one for ever.”[549]

Footnote 545:

Mr. Crosse had been acquainted with Miss Bosanquet when she resided at
Leytonstone, and, from that time to this, a warm friendship had
existed between them. (“Life of Crosse,” by Morgan, p. 8.)

Footnote 546:

“Life of Rev. John Crosse,” by Morgan, p. 9.

Footnote 547:

Unpublished letter.

Footnote 548:

Cross Hall still exists; at all events, it did a few years ago, when
the present writer visited it—a square, substantial, two-story
edifice, built of stone, shaded with trees, and having a good garden
behind it.

Footnote 549:

“Mrs. Fletcher’s Life,” by H. Moore, p. 142.

Fletcher reached Cross Hall towards the end of October, 1781, and continued there till January 2, 1782, when he and his bride set out for Madeley. A glimpse of this brief interval, and of his unique wedding, may interest the reader.

Of course, Fletcher had to preach every Sunday in Mr. Crosse’s church; but, in addition to this, he also preached in Methodist chapels. Samuel Bradburn, at that time Wesley’s “Assistant” in the Bradford Circuit, wrote:—

“Mr. Fletcher is married to Miss Bosanquet. Such a pair! I am inclined
to think there never was a holier, or a happier, couple, since Adam
ate the forbidden fruit. At all events, I can say, such a man and
woman I never knew married before. He has preached in two of our
houses at Halifax and Bradford; and I think that there never were two
better sermons preached in England.”[550]

Footnote 550:

Unpublished letter.

This, from one of the greatest of Methodism’s pulpit orators, was no ordinary praise.

Mrs. Crosby was one of the members of Miss Bosanquet’s family, and wrote:—

“Mr. Fletcher’s general conversation, while at Cross Hall, was
praising God, and speaking of the love of our dear Redeemer. He took
opportunities of speaking to every one in the family, concerning the
state of their souls, and of giving them suitable directions. At other
times, he met us all together, and exhorted us. Our daily meals were
like sacraments. When he drank to any one, it was, ‘Heavenly health!’
or ‘The cup of salvation!’ At, or after each meal, he generally began,
or called upon us to begin, to sing—

“‘Still, O my soul, prolong
The never-ceasing song!
Christ my theme, my hope, my joy!
His be all my happy days!
Praise my every hour employ:
Every breath be spent in praise!’

“Thus did he walk with God, filled with the Spirit: confirming his
love to all the family, and caring for both their spiritual and
temporal concerns. He preached in many places while in Yorkshire, and
to numerous congregations. Many were blest thereby; some convinced of
sin; others comforted. Whenever he either preached or conversed, the
comforts of the Holy Ghost were multiplied.

“Monday, _November 12_, was the day appointed for the marriage. On the
morning of this day, several friends met together. They reached Cross
Hall before family prayers. Mr. Fletcher was dressed in his
canonicals. After giving out one of Mr. Wesley’s marriage hymns, he
read Rev. xix. 7, 8, 9, ‘Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honour
to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made
herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in
fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness
of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are
called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me,
These are the true sayings of God.’ Mr. Fletcher then spoke from these
verses, in such a manner as greatly tended to spiritualize the
solemnities of the day. He said, ‘We invite you to our wedding; but
the Holy Ghost invites you to the marriage of the Lamb. The bride, the
Lamb’s wife, represents the whole Church, triumphant and militant
united together. You may all be the Bride, and Jesus will condescend
to be the Bridegroom. Make yourselves ready by being filled with the
Spirit.’ He then engaged in prayer, and said, ‘Lord, thou knowest we
would not take this step, if we had not eternity in view, and if we
were not as willing to be carried into the churchyard, as to go into
the church.’ At breakfast, he remarked, ‘The postilions are now ready
to carry us to the church; but death will soon be here to carry us to
the marriage supper of the Lamb.’

“On the way to Batley Church, which was nearly two miles distant, he
spoke much of the mystery represented by marriage, namely the union
between Christ and His Church. They were married in the face of the
congregation: the doors were opened, and everyone came in that would.
We then returned home, and spent a considerable time in singing and
prayer. There were nearly twenty of us. I then presented Mrs. Fletcher
with some wedding hymns. She looked over them, and gave them to Mr.
Fletcher. He read the Scripture text at the top, namely, ‘Husbands,
love your wives, as Christ loved the Church.’ Then turning to the
company, he said, ‘My God, what a task! Help me, my friends, by your
prayers, to fulfil it. As Christ loved the Church! He laid aside His
glory for the Church; He submitted to be born into our world; to be
clothed with a human body, subject to all our sinless infirmities; He
endured shame, contempt, pain, yea, death itself for His Church! O my
God, none is able to fulfil this task, without Thine Almighty aid!
Help me, O my God! Pray for me, O my friends!’

“He next read, ‘Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands.’ Mrs.
Fletcher added, ‘As unto the Lord.’ ‘Well, my dear,’ returned Mr.
Fletcher, ‘only in the Lord. And if ever I wish you to do anything
otherwise, resist me with all your might.’

“From dinner, which was a spiritual meal as well as a natural one,
until tea-time, our time was chiefly spent in prayer or singing. After
singing the covenant hymn, Mr. Fletcher went to Mrs. Fletcher, and
said to her, ‘Well, my dearest friend, will you unite with me in
joining ourselves in a perpetual covenant to the Lord? Will you with
me serve Him in His members? Will you help me to bring souls to the
Blessed Redeemer? And, in every possible way, this day lay yourself
under the strongest ties you can, to help me to glorify my gracious
Lord? She answered, ‘May my God help me so to do!’

“In the evening, Mr. Valton[551] preached in the hall, from, ‘What
shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits? I will take the cup
of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.’ His words did not
fall to the ground; many were greatly refreshed. After the preaching,
there was a sweet contest among us: every one thought, ‘I, in
particular, owe the greatest debt of praise;’ at length we agreed to
sing,—

“‘I’ll praise my Maker, while I’ve breath,
And when my voice is lost in death,
Praise shall employ my nobler powers:
My days of praise shall ne’er be past,
While life, and thought, and being last,
Or immortality endures.’”[552]

Footnote 551:

John Valton, one of Wesley’s Preachers, then in the seventh year of
his itinerancy, and labouring in the Birstal Circuit. He wrote: “On
the 12th of November, 1781, Mr. Fletcher stole hallowed fire from my
people, by taking away Miss Bosanquet. I and a few friends accompanied
them to Batley Church. Surely, such a blessed wedding I never knew
before. By request, I improved the occasion in the evening, from these
words, ‘What shall we render to the Lord for all His benefits? I will
take the cup of salvation, and call upon His name.’ It was a
refreshing time; and many prayers were offered that eternal blessings
might crown the devoted pair.” (“Life of the Rev. John Valton,” p.
104.)

Footnote 552:

Wesley’s “Life of Fletcher.”

Is there on record another wedding day such as this? To criticise the account would spoil it. It may, however, interest the reader to give a verbatim copy of the marriage certificate:—

“No. 112. John William Fletcher, of the parish of Madeley, in the
county of Salop, Clerk, and Mary Bosanquet, of this parish, were
married in this church (Batley) by license, this twelfth day of
November, in the year 1781, by me, John Deighton, Curate.

“This marriage was solemnized between us, John William Fletcher, or De
la Flechere, and Mary Bosanquet, in the presence of William Smith and
Ann Tripp.”

Twelve days after the marriage, Wesley wrote to Fletcher the following characteristic letter:—

“LONDON, _November 24, 1781_.

“DEAR SIR,—There is not a person to whom I would have wished Miss
Bosanquet joined besides you. But this union, I am thoroughly
persuaded, is of God; and so are all the children of God with whom I
have spoken. Mr. Bosanquet’s being so agreeable to it, I look upon as
a token for good; and so was the ready disposing of the house and
stock, which otherwise would have been a great encumbrance.

“From the first day which you spend together at Madeley, I hope you
will lay down an exactly regular plan of living; something like that
of the happy family at Leytonstone. Let your light shine to all that
are round about you. And let Sister Fletcher do as much as she can for
God, and no more. To His care I commit you both, and am, my dear
friends,

“Your very affectionate brother,
“JOHN WESLEY.”[553]

Footnote 553:

Wesley’s Works, vol. xii., p. 154.

A curious letter to be written to a man on his being married; but Wesley and Fletcher were far too earnest, and were engaged in far too great a work, to permit them to write commonplace and empty congratulations.

One of the first acts of Fletcher, after his marriage, was to make a settlement of his own monetary matters. The following is an exact copy of his will, written by himself:—

“This is the last Will and Testament of John William Fletcher, Vicar
of Madeley, in the County of Salop, whereby I give and bequeath to my
dear wife, Mary Fletcher, all my personal estate, of what nature or
kind soever, in the kingdom of Great Britain, for her own use and
benefit.

“With regard to my personal estate in Switzerland, I give and bequeath
it all to my second brother, Henry de la Fletcher, assessor to the
Lord Bailie, at Nyon, in the Canton of Berne, on condition that he or
his heirs will take care to pay to my said dear wife, Mary Fletcher,
or order, the income or produce of that personal estate during the
term of her natural life; and, in case my said brother or his heirs do
not fulfil this condition, according to the tenour of this Will, then
my said wife shall sell, or cause to be sold, that my said personal
estate in Switzerland, for her own use and benefit; and get the money
over to England, on condition that she shall pay one hundred crowns to
the poor of Nyon, in the said Canton of Berne.[554]

“And I do hereby appoint my said dear wife sole executrix of this my
last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 24th of December, 1781.

“JOHN WILLIAM FLETCHER, OR DE LA FLECHERE.

“Signed and sealed by the Testator, and by him declared to be his last
Will and Testament, in the presence of us,

“JOHN VALTON.
“RICHARD TAYLOR.
“THOMAS
GARFORTH.”[555]

Footnote 554:

Fletcher’s relatives in Switzerland most faithfully fulfilled this
part of Fletcher’s Will. In an unpublished letter to Mrs. Crosby,
dated June 20, 1786, his widow wrote:—

“My brother Henry possesses so much of the spirit of my dear husband,
that his care of me exceeds all imagination. The family have sent me a
bond, laying in their own estates as security to forward me the whole
produce every year. I do not yet know exactly what it will be; but it
is far better than I thought; and so is everything in which my dearest
Mr. Fletcher has been concerned.”

Footnote 555:

_The Wesley Banner_, 1850, p. 314.

Fletcher’s marriage was, in all respects, a happy one. He was thankful for his wife, and proud of her. Hence the following letter to “The Hon. Mrs. C——:”

“CROSS HALL, YORKSHIRE, _December 26, 1781_.

“MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,—Your favour of the 4th instant did not reach me
until a considerable time after date, through my being still absent
from Madeley; a clergyman of this neighbourhood having made an
exchange with me, to facilitate my settling some temporal affairs in
this county.

“The kind part you take in my happiness demands my warmest thanks; and
I beg you will accept them, multiplied by those which my dear partner
presents to you. Yes, my dear friend, I am married in my old age, and
have a new opportunity of considering a great mystery, in the most
perfect type of our Lord’s mystical union with His Church. I have now
a new call to pray for a fulness of Christ’s holy, gentle, meek,
loving Spirit, that I may love my wife, as He loved His spouse, the
Church. But the emblem is greatly deficient: the Lamb is worthy of His
spouse, and more than worthy; whereas I must acknowledge myself
unworthy of the yoke-fellow, whom heaven has reserved for me. She is a
person after my own heart; and, I make no doubt, we shall increase the
number of the happy marriages in the Church militant.

“Indeed, they are not so many, but it may be worth a Christian’s while
to add one more to the number. God declared it was not good that man,
a social being, should live alone, and, therefore, He gave him a
help-meet for him. For the same reason, our Lord sent forth His
disciples two and two. Had I searched the three kingdoms, I could not
have found one brother willing to share gratis my weal, woe, and
labours, and complaisant enough to unite his fortunes to mine; but God
has found me a partner, _a sister, a wife_, to use St. Paul’s
language, who is not afraid to face with me the colliers and bargemen
of my parish, until death part us.

“Buried together in our country village, we shall help one another to
trim our lamps, and wait for the coming of the heavenly
Bridegroom.”[556]

Footnote 556:

Letters, 1791, p. 281.

Before leaving this memorable year, 1781, it must be added that, twenty days after Fletcher’s marriage, his beloved friend and travelling companion, William Perronet, died, on his way to England, at Douay. Three months before this event took place, Fletcher remarked, in a letter to William Perronet’s venerable father:—

“Madeley, September 4, 1781. I have been for some weeks in Yorkshire,
chiefly at the house of an old friend of mine, Miss Bosanquet, whose
happy family put me in mind of yours. At my return home, I have found
a letter from my brother, who informs me that my dear friend, your
son, continues very weak. He is now at Gimel, a fine village between
Lausanne and Geneva, where Miss Perronet’s sister is settled. There he
rides, and drinks ass’s milk, and breathes the purest air. Mrs.
Perronet is there with her two daughters, so that if the illness of my
dear friend should grow more grievous, he will not want for good
attendance and the most tender nursing.”[557]

Footnote 557:

_Methodist Magazine_, 1817, p. 864.

Now, in another letter to the father of William Perronet, Fletcher wrote:—

“I condole with you, Rev. and dear Sir, about the death of my dear
friend and your dear son. We shall one day see why our heavenly Father
made your sons go before you, and my kind physician before me. About
the time he died, so far as I can find by your kind letter, a strong
concern about him fell upon me by day and by night, insomuch that I
could not help waking my wife to join me in praying for him; and at
once that concern ceased, nor have I since had any such spiritual
feeling, whence I concluded that the conflict I supposed my friend to
be in was ended. But how surprised was I to find it was _by death_!
Well, whether Paul or Apollos, or life or _death_, all things are ours
through Jesus, who knows how to bring good out of evil, and how to
blow us into the harbour by a cross wind, or even by a dreadful
storm.”[558]

Footnote 558:

Benson’s “Life of Fletcher.”