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ironmasters raised a fresh outcry against him； and addressed another
strong memorial against Dud and his iron to King James。 This seems to
have taken effect； and in order to ascertain the quality of the
article by testing it upon a large scale； the King commanded Dudley
to send up to the Tower of London； with every possible speed；
quantities of all the sorts of bar…iron made by him； fit for the
〃making of muskets； carbines； and iron for great bolts for shipping；
which iron；〃 continues Dud； 〃being so tried by artists and smiths；
the ironmasters and iron…mongers were all silenced until the 21st
year of King James's reign。〃 The ironmasters then endeavoured to get
the Dudley patent included in the monopolies to be abolished by the
statute of that year； but all they could accomplish was the
limitation of the patent to fourteen years instead of thirty…one； the
special exemption of the patent from the operation of the statute
affording a sufficient indication of the importance already attached
to the invention。 After that time Dudley 〃went on with his invention
cheerfully； and made annually great store of iron； good and
merchantable； and sold it unto diverse men at twelve pounds per ton。〃
〃I also；〃 said he； 〃made all sorts of cast…iron wares； as brewing
cisterns； pots； mortars； &c。； better and cheaper than any yet made in
these nations with charcoal； some of which are yet to be seen by any
man （at the author's house in the city of Worcester） that desires to
be satisfied of the truth of the invention。〃
Notwithstanding this decided success； Dudley encountered nothing but
trouble and misfortune。 The ironmasters combined to resist his
invention； they fastened lawsuit's upon him； and succeeded in getting
him ousted from his works at Cradley。 From thence he removed to
Himley in the county of Stafford； where he set up a pit…coal furnace；
but being without the means of forging the iron into bars； he was
constrained to sell the pig…iron to the charcoal…ironmasters； 〃who
did him much prejudice； not only by detaining his stock； but also by
disparaging his iron。〃 He next proceeded to erect a large new furnace
at Hasco Bridge； near Sedgeley； in the same county； for the purpose
of carrying out the manufacture on the most improved principles。 This
furnace was of stone； twenty…seven feet square； provided with
unusually large bellows； and when in full work he says he was enabled
to turn out seven tons of iron per week； 〃the greatest quantity of
pit…coal iron ever yet made in Great Britain。〃 At the same place he
discovered and opened out new workings of coal ten feet thick； lying
immediately over the ironstone； and he prepared to carry on his
operations on a large scale； but the new works were scarcely finished
when a mob of rioters； instigated by the charcoal…ironmasters； broke
in upon them； cut in pieces the new bellows； destroyed the machinery；
and laid the results of all his deep…laid ingenuity and persevering
industry in ruins。 From that time forward Dudley was allowed no rest
nor peace： he was attacked by mobs； worried by lawsuits； and
eventually overwhelmed by debts。 He was then seized by his creditors
and sent up to London； where he was held a prisoner in the Comptoir
for several thousand pounds。 The charcoal…iron men thus for a time
remained masters of the field。
Charles I。 seems to have taken pity on the suffering inventor； and on
his earnest petition； setting forth the great advantages to the
nation of his invention； from which he had as yet derived no
advantage； but only losses； sufferings； and persecution； the King
granted him a renewal of his patent*
＇footnote。。。
Patent No。 117； Old Series； granted in 1638； to Sir George Horsey；
David Ramsey； Roger Foulke； and Dudd Dudley。
。。。＇
in the year 1638； three other gentlemen joining him as partners； and
doubtless providing the requisite capital for carrying on the
manufacture after the plans of the inventor。 But Dud's evil fortune
continued to pursue him。 The patent had scarcely been securedere the
Civil War broke out； and the arts of peace must at once perforce give
place to the arts of war。 Dud's nature would not suffer him to be
neutral at such a time； and when the nation divided itself into two
hostile camps； his predilections being strongly loyalist； he took the
side of the King with his father。 It would appear from a petition
presented by him to Charles II。 in 1660； setting forth his sufferings
in the royal cause； and praying for restoral to certain offices which
he had enjoyed under Charles I。； that as early as the year 1637 he
had been employed by the King on a mission into Scotland；*
＇footnote。。。
By his own account； given in Metallum Martis； while in Scotland in
1637； he visited the Highlands as well as the Lowlands； spending the
whole summer of that year 〃in opening of mines and making of
discoveries；〃 spending part of the time with Sir James Hope of Lead
Hills； near where； he says； 〃he got gold。〃 It does not appear；
however； that any iron forges existed in Scotland at the time： indeed
Dudley expressly says that 〃Scotland maketh no iron；〃 and in his
treatise of 1665 he urges that the Corporation of the Mines Royal
should set him and his inventions at work to enable Scotland to enjoy
the benefit of a cheap and abundant supply of the manufactured
article。
。。。＇
in the train of the Marquis of Hamilton； the King's Commissioner。
Again in 1639； leaving his ironworks and partners； he accompanied
Charles on his expedition across the Scotch border； and was present
with the army until its discomfiture at Newburn near Newcastle in the
following year。
The sword was now fairly drawn； and Dud seems for a time to have
abandoned his iron…works and followed entirely the fortunes of the
king。 He was sworn surveyor of the Mews or Armoury in 1640； but being
unable to pay for the patent； another was sworn in in his place。 Yet
his loyalty did not falter； for in the beginning of 1642； when
Charles set out from London； shortly after the fall of Strafford and
Laud； Dud went with him。*
＇footnote。。。
The Journals of the House of Commons； of the 13th June； 1642； contain
the resolution 〃that Captain Wolseley； Ensign Dudley； and John
Lometon be forthwith sent for； as delinquents； by the
Serjeant…at…Arms attending on the House； for giving interruption to
the execution of the ordinance of the militia in the county of
Leicester。〃
。。。＇
He was present before Hull when Sir John Hotham shut its gates in the
king's face； at York when the royal commissions of array were sent
out enjoining all loyal subjects to send men； arms； money； and
horses； for defence of the king and maintenance of the law； at
Nottingham； where the royal standard was raised； at Coventry； where
the townspeople refused the king entrance and fired upon his troops
from the walls； at Edgehill； where the first great but indecisive
battle was fought between the contending parties； in short； as Du