it is 1660, just before the restoration of the monarchy. sir george vernon, a royalist, is in a property dispute with his cousin, rupert vernon, a roundhead ("i.e.", a supporter of parliament). sir george fears that this dispute will be resolved in favour of his cousin, who has strong ties to the current government, and that his family would lose haddon hall. to secure the estate's long-term future, sir george has arranged a marriage between rupert and his only surviving child, dorothy vernon. but dorothy is in love with john manners, the impoverished second son of the earl of rutland. manners, who is also a royalist, is of no use to sir george, and he has forbidden their union.