A Craftsman and His Times in a Village Estate
In a pleasant England parish, Sir George Steady, famed for fairness, governs with candor and generosity. His steward Mr Trueman runs the estate wisely while Will Birébrand schemes to seize power by sowing rumors among tenants about Freeman’s plans to raise rents and confine cottages. The piece rails against sensational gossip and urges plain, honest storytelling over scandal.