The mechanical engineers employed by Copley failed in making his bellows blow; on which he sent for Dudley, who forthwith "made his bellows to be blown feisibly;" but Copley failed, like his predecessors, in making iron, and at length he too desisted from further experiments.
Such continued to be the state of things until the Restoration, when we find Dud Dudley a petitioner to the king for the renewal of his patent.
He was also a petitioner for compensation in respect of the heavy losses he had sustained during the civil wars.

The king was besieged by crowds of applicants of a similar sort, but Dudley was no more successful than the others.

He failed in obtaining the renewal of his patent.

Another applicant for the like privilege, probably having greater interest at court, proved more successful.

Colonel Proger and three others[14] were granted a patent to make iron with coal; but Dudley knew the secret, which the new patentees did not; and their patent came to nothing.
Dudley continued to address the king in importunate petitions, asking to be restored to his former offices of Serjeant-at-arms, Lieutenant of Ordnance, and Surveyor of the Mews or Armoury.