Definition of "dudgen"

[…] whose wild and madbrain humour nothing fitteth so just, as the stalest dudgen or absurdest balductum, that they or their mates can invent in odd and awk speeches […]

1815 Sir Egerton Brydges, Archaica: Harvey's Four letters, and sonnets, touching Robert Greene; Pierce's supererogation; [and] New letter of notable contents. Brathwaite's Essays upon the five senses, From the private press of Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, printed by T. Davison, p142

A melancholy boddy is not the kindest nurse for a chearely minde, (the joviall complexion is soverainly beholding to nature,) but I know not a finer transformation in Ovid then the Metamorphosis of dudgen earnest into sport; of harsh sower into sweet; of losse into gaine; or reproch into credit; of whatsoever badd occurrence into some good.

1593, Gabriel Harvey, Pierces Supererogation: Or A New Prayse of the Old Asse, page 21

Gentlemen (according to the laudable custome) I am to court you with a few premisses considered: but a number of you there bee, who consider neigher premisses nor conclusion, but piteouslie torment Title Pages on euerie poast: neuer readidng farther of anie Booke, than Imprinted by Simeon such a signe, and yet with your dudgen iudgement will desperatelie presume to run up to the hard hilts through the whole bulke of it.

1594, Thomas Nashe, The Terrors of the Night

Think' st thou, my Wit shall keepe the pack- Horse Way , That ev'ry Dudgen low Invention goes?

1599, Michael Drayton, Idea, page 107