After I had made a second blast and tryal, the fesibility of making Iron with Pit-cole and Sea-cole, I found by my new Invention, the quality to be good and profitable, but the quantity did not exceed above 3 Tuns per week: After I had brought my Invention unto some perfection, and profitable, doubted not in the future to have advanced my Invention, to make quantity also.
Immediately after my second tryal, I wrote unto my Father what I had done, and withall, desired him to obtain a Pattent for it from King James of Blessed Memory; the Answer to which Letter I shall insert, only to shew the forwardness of King James, in this his much animating the Inventor, as he did both Simon Sturtevant, John Rovenson, Doctor Iordanie and others; The Letter follows;
Son Dudley,
The Kings Majesty being at New-Market, I sent Parkes thither on Saturday to some Friends of mine, to move the Kings Majesty for my Pattent, which be coming on Sunday Morning, in the Afternoon His Majesty sent a Warrant to Master Atturney to dispatch my Pattent, for the which I am infinitely bound unto His Majesty, that it pleased Him of His Great Grace and Favour to dispatch it so soon; I have been this night with Master Atturney, who will make hast for me; God Bless you, and Commend me unto all my Friends:
Your Loving Father,
Edward Dudley.
March 10. 1619.
This Richard Parkes, à Parks-house Esq; in the Letter before mentioned, was the Authors Brother in Law, which did about 1 year after the Pattent was granted, carry for the Author much good Merchantable Iron unto the Tower, by King Iames’s command to be tryed by all Artists, and they did very well approve of the Iron, and the said Parkshouse had a fowling Gun there made of Pit-cole Iron, with his name gilt upon the Gun, which gun was taken from him by Colonel Levison Governour of Dudley Castle, and never restored.
The said Richard Parkshouse’s son my Nephew, Edward Parkshouse, the 5th. of January 1664, pressed me much to put Pen unto Paper, to shew what I have done in the invention of making of Iron with Pit-coale and Seacoal, not unknown unto this Country, and to my brother Folliott, Esq; and my Nephew Parkshouse Esq; and to my Kinsman Master Francis Dingley, to whom I intend to leave the Secrets of my Inventions, notwithstanding all my sad sufferings from time to time this forty Years in the invention, my Sufferings in the War, and my Estate sold for my Loyalty; and also my sad sufferings and obstructions since his Sacred Majesties happy Restauration many wayes; and also upon sundry and many references, at the Authors very great charge, pains, and time spent of Foure years in his aged dayes, for the general good, by his inventions for the preservation of Great Brittain’s Wood and Timber.
Now let me shew some Reasons that induced me to undertake these Inventions, after the many failings of others, well knowing that withing Ten miles of Dudley Castle there to be neer 20000. Smiths of all sorts, and many Iron works at that time, within that Circle decayed for want of Wood (yet formerly a mighty Woodland Country.)