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from the walls； at Edgehill； where the first great but indecisive
battle was fought between the contending parties； in short； as Dud
Dudley states in his petition； he was 〃in most of the battailes that
year； and also supplyed his late sacred Majestie's magazines of
Stafford； Worcester； Dudley Castle； and Oxford； with arms； shot；
drakes； and cannon； and also； became major unto Sir Frauncis
Worsley's regiment； which was much decaied。〃
In 1643； according to the statement contained in his petition above
referred to； Dud Dudley acted as military engineer in setting out the
fortifications of Worcester and Stafford； and furnishing them with
ordnance。 After the taking of Lichfield； in which he had a share； he
was made Colonel of Dragoons； and accompanied the Queen with his
regiment to the royal head…quarters at Oxford。 The year after we find
him at the siege of Gloucester； then at the first battle of Newbury
leading the forlorn hope with Sir George Lisle； afterwards marching
with Sir Charles Lucas into the associate counties； and present at
the royalist rout at Newport。 That he was esteemed a valiant and
skilful officer is apparent from the circumstance； that in 1645 he
was appointed general of Prince Maurice's train of artillery； and
afterwards held the same rank under Lord Ashley。 The iron districts
being still for the most part occupied by the royal armies； our
military engineer turned his practical experience to account by
directing the forging of drakes*
＇footnote。。。
Small pieces of artillery； specimens of which are still to be seen in
the museum at Woolwich Arsenal and at the Tower。 。。。＇
of bar…iron； which were found of great use； giving up his own
dwelling…house in the city of Worcester for the purpose of carrying
on the manufacture of these and other arms。 But Worcester and the
western towns fell before the Parliamentarian armies in 1646； and all
the iron…works belonging to royalists； from which the principal
supplies of arms had been drawn by the King's army； were forthwith
destroyed。
Dudley fully shared in the dangers and vicissitudes of that trying
period； and bore his part throughout like a valiant soldier。 For two
years nothing was heard of him； until in 1648； when the king's party
drew together again； and made head in different parts of the country；
north and south。 Goring raised his standard in Essex； but was driven
by Fairfax into Colchester； where he defended himself for two months。
While the siege was in progress； the royalists determined to make an
attempt to raise it。 On this Dud Dudley again made his appearance in
the field； and； joining sundry other counties； he proceeded to raise
200 men； mostly at his own charge。 They were； however； no sooner
mustered in Bosco Bello woods near Madeley； than they were attacked
by the Parliamentarians； and dispersed or taken prisoners。 Dud was
among those so taken； and he was first carried to Hartlebury Castle
and thence to Worcester； where he was imprisoned。 Recounting the
sufferings of himself and his followers on this occasion； in the
petition presented to Charles II。 in 1660；*
＇footnote。。。
State Paper Office； Dom。 Charles II。； vol。 xi。 54。
。。。＇
he says； 〃200 men were dispersed； killed； and some taken； namely；
Major Harcourt； Major Elliotts； Capt。 Long； and Cornet Hodgetts； of
whom Major Harcourt was miserably burned with matches。 The petitioner
and the rest were stripped almost naked； and in triumph and scorn
carried up to the city of Worcester （which place Dud had fortified
for the king）； and kept close prisoners； with double guards set upon
the prison and the city。〃
Notwithstanding this close watch and durance； Dudley and Major
Elliotts contrived to break out of gaol； making their way over the
tops of the houses； afterwards passing the guards at the city gates；
and escaping into the open country。 Being hotly pursued ； they
travelled during the night； and took to the trees during the daytime。
They succeeded in reaching London； but only to drop again into the
lion's mouth； for first Major Elliotts was captured； then Dudley； and
both were taken before Sir John Warner； the Lord Mayor； who forthwith
sent them before the 〃cursed committee of insurrection；〃 as Dudley
calls them。 The prisoners were summarily sentenced to be shot to
death； and were meanwhile closely imprisoned in the Gatehouse at
Westminster； with other Royalists。
The day before their intended execution； the prisoners formed a plan
of escape。 It was Sunday morning； the 20th August； 1648； when they
seized their opportunity； 〃at ten of the cloeke in sermon time；〃 and；
overpowering the gaolers； Dudley； with Sir Henry Bates； Major
Elliotts； Captain South； Captain Paris； and six others； succeeded in
getting away； and making again for the open country。 Dudley had
received a wound in the leg； and could only get along with great
difficulty。 He records that he proceeded on crutches； through
Worcester； Tewkesbury； and Gloucester； to Bristol； having been 〃fed
three weeks in private in an enemy's hay mow。〃 Even the most
lynx…eyed Parliamentarian must have failed to recognise the quondam
royalist general of artillery in the helpless creature dragging
himself along upon crutches； and he reached Bristol in safety。
His military career now over； he found himself absolutely penniless。
His estate of about 200L。 per annum had been sequestrated and sold by
the government；*
＇footnote。。。
The Journals of the House of Commons； on the 2nd Nov。 1652； have the
following entry： 〃The House this day resumed the debate upon the
additional Bill for sale of several lands and estates forfeited to
the Commonwealth for treason； when it was resolved that the name of
Dud Dudley of Green Lodge be inserted into this Bill。〃
。。。＇
his house in Worcester had been seized and his sickly wife turned out
of doors； and his goods； stock； great shop； and ironworks； which he
himself valued at 2000L。； were destroyed。 He had also lost the
offices of Serjeant…at…arms； Lieutenant of Ordnance； and Surveyor of
the Mews； which he had held under the king； in a word； he found
himself reduced to a state of utter destitution。
Dudley was for some time under the necessity of living in great
privacy at Bristol； but when the king had been executed； and the
royalists were finally crushed at Worcester； Dud gradually emerged
from his concealment。 He was still the sole possessor of the grand
secret of smelting iron with pit…coal； and he resolved upon one more
commercial adventure； in the hope of yet turning it to good account。
He succeeded in inducing Walter Stevens； linendraper； and John Stone；
merchant； both of Bristol； to join him as partners in an ironwork；
which they proceeded to erect near that city。 The buildings were well
advanced； and nearly 700L。 had been expended； when a quarrel occurred
between Dudley and his partners； which ended in the stoppage of the
works； and the concern being thrown into Cha