To the Reader.

A

SHORT ACCOUNT

OF

THE LIFE AND DEATH

OF

THE REVEREND JOHN FLETCHER.

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Sequor, non passibus aequis! 34

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TO THE READER.

NO man in England has had so long an acquaintance with Mr. Fletcher as myself. Our acquaintance began almost as soon as his arrival in London, about the year 1752, before he entered into Holy Orders, or, I believe, had any such intention; and it continued uninterrupted between thirty and forty years, even till it pleased God to take him to himself. Nor was ours a slight or ordinary acquaintance; but we were of one heart and of one soul. We had no secrets between us for many years; we did not purposely hide anything from each other. From time to time he consulted me, and I him, on the most important occasions; and he constantly professed, not only much esteem, but, what I valued far more, much affection. He told me in one of his letters, — I doubt not from his heart,

Tecum vivere amem; tecum obeam lubens.

“With thee I gladly would both live and die.”

I therefore think myself obliged by the strongest ties to pay this small tribute to his memory. But you may easily observe, that, in doing this, I am little more than a compiler; for I owe a great, if not the greatest, part of the ensuing Tract to a few friends who have been at no small pains in furnishing me with materials; and, above all, to my dear friend, (such she has been almost from her childhood,) Mrs. Fletcher. I could easily have altered both hers and their language, while I retained their sentiments; but I was conscious I could not alter it for the better; and I would not alter for altering’ sake; but judged it fairest to give you most of their accounts, very nearly in their own words.

AMSTERDAM,

September 12, 1786.