the Mines Royall, will set the Mines at work, that my Inventions, in which I have spent much time and charge, in melting, smelting, extracting, refining and reducing of Mines and Mettals with Pitcoal, Seacoal and Peats; and have made with the same Fuell many hundred Tuns of good Merchantable Iron, into cast works and Bars; may by the inventioner be enjoyed according to the Act of Parliament, 21. Jacob. Seeing the Authour can make it appear he hath been much obstructed by lawsuits and the Wars hitherto : Desires that his Talent of Undoubted truths (may not be buried) for the general good, but be brought to light, after all the sad Sufferings of the Authour, whereby he may add unto his new Inventions, what he conceives fit to be done: That not onely this so exhausted Kingdome may enjoy the benefit thereof, but also Scotland and Wales which abound with Coals, Iron, Stone and Mines of all sorts, minerals and precious Stones, &c. Yet from England's Granery, Scotland making no Iron, and other Territories, have their thorow supply, not onely of Iron, but of Iron manufactories many, so hath Wales; yet might Scotland and Wales not onely supply themselves, but supply His Sacred Majesties other_Territories with Iron and Iron Wares and Steel also, by Iron and Steel made with Pit-coale, Sea-coale and Peat; and thereby be helpfull unto themselves and England, and all Plantations of his Majesties, on this side and beyond the line. To the Reader, especially of England Scotland and Wales. He injury and prejudice done unto me & to this Island, my_native Seacoal, Peat and Turf, and with the like feuell, to melt, extract, refine and reduce all Mines and mettals, moved me in the negligence of better Wits and Pens to apologise for it in this ensuing Treatise, and believe me Reader, twas no private, or politick designe in my Invention, but meer zeal, becomming an honest man, Patriæ, parentibus and amicis; that Engaged me (after many others failed) in these Inventions, for the general good and preservation of Wood and Timber, which, Eque pauperibus, locupletibus eque, Eque neglectis pueris senibusq; nocébit; Therefore it concerns His Sacred Majesty, his high Court of Parliament, all his Counsels, Mariners, Merchants, Royall and Loyall Subjects (the destruction of Wood and Timber) to lay it to heart, and helping hands, upon fit occasions, in these so laudable Inventions of making Iron & melting of mines and refyning of them with Pitcole, Seacole, Peat and Turf; for the preservation of Wood and Timber for maintenance of Navigation, men of War, the Fishing and Merchants' Trade, which is the greatest strength of Great Brittain, and all other his Majesties Kingdomes and Territories, whose defence and offence next under God, consists by his sacred Majesties assisting care, and view of his men of War, Ships, experienced marrinours, merchants, Ordinance of Copper, Bras and Iron Armories, Steels and Irons of all sorts; both of bars, squares, and cast works and which ought and may be suplyed from Scotland and Wales by Iron, Copper and Brasse, and made there, with Pitcole, Seacole and Peat; and which abound there and in England, also, In Cornwall, Devonshire, Sommerset, Glocester, Stafford, Darby, York, Lancaster, Westmerland, Cumberand; are many Copper Mines: so is there in Pembrook, Carmarthin, Merionith and Denbyshires, also there are very many rich Coper mines_in very many places in Scotland, at Sterling, at Dumfad and many other places well known unto the Authour, Dud Dudley. Dud Dudley's Hat Great Brittain with her Men of Warr, Fleets and Shiping, have had in all Ages, and in these latter Ages, as great Success at Seas as any people whatsoever in the Universe, cannot modestly be denied in 88, overthrowing that Invincible Armado so long a preparing, and since other Navies also; and whose Armadoes, Navics, Armes, and Men, have been a Terrour to other Nations; nay her own Grand Magazins, are the very Granary from whence all His Sacred Majesties. Kingdomes, Dominions, and Territories both in the East and WestIndies, on this side and beyond the Line, they have their whole and thorow supply of Shiping, Men, Armes, Food and Rayment, and more then can be, from any Kingdom of the Christian World. Now if Wood and Timber should decay still, and fail, the greatest Strength of Great Brittain, her Ships, Mariners, Merchants, Fishings, and His Majesties Navies, and Men of War, for our Defence, and Offence would fail us, which before. and since SS made his Sacred Majestyes Prodecessors, Queen Elizabeth, and her Great Council, the then Parliament, to make Lawes for the preservation of Wood and Timber, especially near any Navigable River; 1 Eliz. 15. 27 Eliz. 19. 28 Eliz. 3. 5. 23 Eliz. 5. All which Laws, and others, for the Preservation of Wood and Timber are still in force, but not duly Executed; also King Iames His Sacred Majesties Grand-father, and Prince Henry for the Preservation of Wood and Timber in this Island, did in the 9th Year of His Reign, Grant His Letters Pattents of Priviledge unto Simon Sturtevant, Esq.; for 31 years, for the making of Iron with Pit-cole and Seacole for the preservation of Wood and Timber of Great Brittain so greatly then consumed by Ironworks; This Invention was by King James's command to be at large put in Print, which Book did contain near a quire of paper in quarto, called Simon Sturtevant His Metallica. Anno. 1612. May 22. Printed by George Eld, Cum Privilegio. After Simon Sturtevant could not perform his making of Iron with Pit-cole or Sea-cole, according unto his Engagement, King lames, and Prince Henry, caused him to render up his Pattent, and a new Pattent was Granted unto Iohn Rovenson, Esq. who also was Enjoyned to write a Book of his Inventions, called, Rovenson's Mettallica. Printed for Thomas Thorp, Cum Privilegio: May 15, An. 1613. After John Rovenson, Esq. had often failed with his Inventions, and great undertakings, Gambleton, Esq. a Servant of Queen Ann's, undertook (by Pattent) to perform the Invention of making of Iron with Pit-cole, and Sea-cole; but he being as confident of his Invention as. others, did Erect his works at Lambeth, which the Author view'd; and Gumbleton failing, the Learned and Ingenious Doctor. Iorden of Baths, the Authors Acquaintance, and sundry others obtained Pattents for the making of Iron, and melting of Mines with Pit-cole and Sea-cole, for the preservation of Wood and Timber all which Inventions and endeavours to Effect and Perfect the said Works, have been by many heretofore well known, to have worthily attempted the said Invention, though with fruitless success. Having seen many of their failings, I held it my Duty to endeavour, if it were possible to Effect and Perfect so laudable, and beneficial, and also so much desired Inventions, as the making of Iron into cast Works and Bars; and also the Melting, Extracting, Refining and Reducing all sorts of Mines, Minerals and Metals, with Pit-cole, Sea-cole, Peat, and Turf, for the preservation of wood and timber, so much exhausted by Iron Works of late. Having former knowledge and delight in Iron Works of my Fathers, when I was but a Youth; afterwards at 20 years Old, was I fetched from Oxford, then of Bayliol Colledge, Anno 1619, to look and manage 3 Iron Works of my Fathers, 1 Furnace, and 2 Forges, in the Chase of Pensnet, in Worcester-shire, but Wood and Charcole, growing then scant, and Pit-coles, in great quantities abounding near the Furnace, did induce me to alter my Furnace, and to attempt by my new Invention, the making of Iron with Pit-cole, assuring my self in my Invention, the loss to me could not be greater then others, nor so great, although my success should prove fruitless; But I found such success at first tryal animated me, for at my tryal or blast, I made iron to profit with Pitcole, and found Facere est addere Inventioni. 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, Iohn 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 : March 10. 1619. Your Loving Father, Edward Dudley. |