A little later than this Fletcher undertook to be Chaplain (one of three) to the Earl of Buchan, who was known as one of the most devoted Christians of his rank.
Notwithstanding these duties, Fletcher’s work became increasingly itinerant in character. Wesley says:—
“For many years he regularly preached at places eight, ten, and sixteen miles off, returning the same night, though he seldom got home before one or two in the morning At a little Society which he had gathered about six miles from Madeley, he preached two or three times a week, beginning at five in the morning... In some of his journeys he had not only difficulties, but dangers likewise, to encounter One day, as he was riding over a wooden bridge, just as he got to the middle thereof, it broke in The mare’s forelegs sank into the river, but her breast and hinder parts were kept up by the bridge In that position she lay as still as if she had been dead, till he got over her neck and took off his bags, in which were several MSS., the spoiling of which would have occasioned much trouble. He then endeavoured to raise her up, but she would not stir till he went over the other part of the bridge. But no sooner did he set his feet upon the ground than she began to plunge Immediately the remaining part of the bridge broke down and sunk with her into the river But presently she rose and swam to him.”
Other adventures befell Fletcher in his travels, some of them ending in the narrowest escapes from injury and death.
In the early part of the year 1770 Fletcher visited Italy, France, and his native Switzerland, with his friend Mr. Ireland Few details are preserved, but it seems to have been an uncommonly lively tour Mr. Ireland tells of the Vicar’s enthusiasm for unmasking various practices of the Italian priests, which placed them frequently in danger of their lives.
During this trip they met with a classical scholar who said he had “travelled all over Europe, and had passed through all the societies in England to find a person whose life corresponded with the Gospels and with Paul’s Epistles.” Almost defiantly he demanded of Mr. Ireland if he knew a single clergyman or Dissenting minister in his native land possessed of £100 a year who would not desert his living for any other if offered double that amount Mr. Ireland triumphantly pointed to his travelling companion, saying, “That man would not!”
The traveller turned to Mr. Fletcher and began a religious argument, which the two kept up at intervals for a whole week The Vicar overcame his opponent again and again, and though the latter lost his temper continually over his repeated defeats, the calm, sweet reasonableness of Fletcher’s spirit, as much as the overwhelming weight of his arguments for Jesus Christ, made a lasting impression upon his mind Eight years later he showed his appreciation by becoming the Vicar’s host in Provence, and treating him with the greatest reverence and attention.
While in Paris he was sent for to visit a sick woman Information having been given to a magistrate which ascribed to him wrong motives, a garbled case was got up, and an order of apprehension was issued from the King An officer called at the house where the friends were staying to serve the order Mr. Ireland stepped out and, without mentioning his name, said quietly, “Sir, have you an order for me?” “I have,” responded the officer, taking him for Fletcher. They went off together, and Mr. Fletcher was well out of the city before the magistrate disgustedly discovered the mistake.
When in the south of France, Fletcher determined to visit the Protestants of the Cevennes Mountains, and nothing would serve him but that he should perform the long and difficult journey on foot, with but a staff in his hand He disdained to appear well cared for, and on horseback, at the doors of those whose fathers were hunted for their faith from rock to rock He set out in his own fashion, therefore; on the first night of his travels begging the use of a chair in some humble cottage until morning. The peasant was reluctant to admit his strange guest, but when he had heard him talk and pray, himself, no less than his wife and children, were affected to tears. “I nearly refused to let a stranger into my house,” related the peasant to his neighbours, “but when he came I found more angel than man.”
Nor was this the only person who held such an opinion Wesley tells of another visit paid by the Vicar upon his way to call upon a minister of the district A little crowd was assembled at the door of a house where a mother and her newly-born child were dying The room was also filled with neighbours Fletcher went in, spoke gently to the people present of the effects of the sin of our first parent, and pointed them to Jesus “Jesus!” he exclaimed, “He is able to raise the dead, to save you all from sin, to save these from death. Come, let us ask Him!”