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children； educating them carefully； and afterwards employing them in
confidential offices connected with the management of his extensive
property。 Dud describes himself as taking great delight； when a
youth； in his father's iron…works near Dudley； where he obtained
considerable knowledge of the various processes of the manufacture。
The town of Dudley was already a centre of the iron manufacture；
though chiefly of small wares； such as nails； horse…shoes； keys；
locks； and common agricultural tools； and it was estimated that there
were about 20；000 smiths and workers in iron of various kinds living
within a circuit of ten miles of Dudley Castle。 But； as in the
southern counties； the production of iron had suffered great
diminution from the want of fuel in the district； 〃though formerly a
mighty woodland country； and many important branches of the local
trade were brought almost to a stand…still。 Yet there was an
extraordinary abundance of coal to be met with in the
neighbourhoodcoal in some places lying in seams ten feet
thickironstone four feet thick immediately under the coal； with
limestone conveniently adjacent to both。 The conjunction seemed
almost providential〃as if。〃 observes Dud； 〃God had decreed the time
when and how these smiths should be supplied； and this island also；
with iron； and most especially that this cole and ironstone should
give the first and just occasion for the invention of smelting iron
with pit…cole；〃 though； as we have already seen； all attempts
heretofore made with that object had practically failed。
Dud was a special favourite of the Earl his father； who encouraged
his speculations with reference to the improvement of the iron
manufacture； and gave him an education calculated to enable him to
turn his excellent practical abilities to account。 He was studying at
Baliol College； Oxford； in the year 1619； when the Earl sent for him
to take charge of an iron furnace and two forges in the chase of
Pensnet in Worcestershire。 He was no sooner installed manager of the
works； than； feeling hampered by the want of wood for fuel； his
attention was directed to the employment of pit…coal as a substitute。
He altered his furnace accordingly； so as to adapt it to the new
process； and the result of the first trial was such as to induce him
to persevere。 It is nowhere stated in Dud Dudley's Treatise what was
the precise nature of the method adopted by him； but it is most
probable that； in endeavouring to substitute coal for wood as fuel；
he would subject the coal to a process similar to that of
charcoal…burning。 The result would be what is called Coke； and as
Dudley informs us that he followed up his first experiment with a
second blast； by means of which he was enabled to produce good
marketable iron； the presumption is that his success was also due to
an improvement of the blast which he contrived for the purpose of
keeping up the active combustion of the fuel。 Though the quantity
produced by the new process was comparatively smallnot more than
three tons a week from each furnaceDudley anticipated that greater
experience would enable him to increase the quantity； and at all
events he had succeeded in proving the practicability of smelting
iron with fuel made from pit…coal； which so many before him had tried
in vain。
Immediately after the second trial had been made with such good
issue； Dud wrote to his father the Earl； then in London； informing
him what he had done； and desiring him at once to obtain a patent for
the invention from King James。 This was readily granted； and the
patent （No。 18）； dated the 22nd February； 1620； was taken out in the
name of Lord Dudley himself。
Dud proceeded with the manufacture of iron at Pensnet； and also at
Cradley in Staffordshire； where he erected another furnace； and a
year after the patent was granted he was enabled to send up to the
Tower； by the King's command； a considerable quantity of the new iron
for trial。 Many experiments were made with it： its qualities were
fairly tested； and it was pronounced 〃good merchantable iron。〃 Dud
adds； in his Treatise； that his brother…in…law； Richard Parkshouse；
of Sedgeley；*
＇footnote。。。
Mr。 Parkshouse was one of the esquires to Sir Ferdinando Dudley （the
legitimate son of the Earl of Dudley） When he was made Knight of the
Bath。 Sir Ferdinando's only daughter Frances married Humble Ward； son
and heir of William Ward； goldsmith and jeweller to Charles the
First's queen。 Her husband having been created a baron by the title
of Baron Ward of Birmingham； and Frances becoming Baroness of Dudley
in her own right on the demise of her father； the baronies of Dudley
and Ward thus became united in their eldest son Edward in the year
1697。
。。。＇
〃had a fowling…gun there made of the Pit…cole iron；〃 which was 〃well
approved。〃 There was therefore every prospect of the new method of
manufacture becoming fairly established； and with greater experience
further improvements might with confidence be anticipated； when a
succession of calamities occurred to the inventor which involved him
in difficulties and put an effectual stop to the progress of his
enterprise。
The new works had been in successful operation little more than a
year； when a flood； long after known as the 〃Great May…day Flood；〃
swept away Dudley's principal works at Cradley； and otherwise
inflicted much damage throughout the district。 〃At the market town
called Stourbridge；〃 says Dud； in the course of his curious
narrative； 〃although the author sent with speed to preserve the
people from drowning； and one resolute man was carried from the
bridge there in the day…time； the nether part of the town was so deep
in water that the people had much ado to preserve their lives in the
uppermost rooms of their houses。〃 Dudley himself received very little
sympathy for his losses。 On the contrary； the iron…smelters of the
district rejoiced exceedingly at the destruction of his works by the
flood。 They had seen him making good iron by his new patent process；
and selling it cheaper than they could afford to do。 They accordingly
put in circulation all manner of disparaging reports about his iron。
It was bad iron； not fit to be used； indeed no iron； except what was
smelted with charcoal of wood； could be good。 To smelt it with coal
was a dangerous innovation； and could only result in some great
public calamity。 The ironmasters even appealed to King James to put a
stop to Dud's manufacture； alleging that his iron was not
merchantable。 And then came the great flood； which swept away his
works； the hostile ironmasters now hoping that there was an end for
ever of Dudley's pit…coal iron。
But Dud； with his wonted energy； forthwith set to work and repaired
his furnaces and forges； though at great cost； and in the course of a
short time the new manufacture was again in full progress。 The
ironmasters raised a fresh outcry against him； and addressed anoth