They had seen him making good iron by his new patent process, and selling it cheaper than they could afford to do.

They accordingly put in circulation all manner of disparaging reports about his iron.

It was bad iron, not fit to be used; indeed no iron, except what was smelted with charcoal of wood, could be good.

To smelt it with coal was a dangerous innovation, and could only result in some great public calamity.

The ironmasters even appealed to King James to put a stop to Dud's manufacture, alleging that his iron was not merchantable.