[MF] Thanks to Raak's confirmation of the last, yip. Did it quite quickly, thanks to the clear clues (apart from that last). I've left it at home, but I can post the ones I thought were particularly cute.
[rab] Had a brief glimpse of the Everyman last night in the pub, over the shoulder of a friend, as it were. We'd all had far too much to drink to concentrate fully but I did notice that 11 across wasn't completed . . . (4, 8) first word *might* have been 'OPEN'. It's been niggling me so please can you put me out of my misery so's I can get some work done? Oh yes - how do I hide text in here?
[MF] The only thing that is ringing a distant bell is that Egal might be a character, not sure from which play. Or I could be barking up the wrong tree.
For example, good man left in charge of Queen, we hear, notes 509 very quiet flowers by the way, points at the Spanish sailor, and confuses the novice French model with account concerning dead woman's jewelry. (3, 8)
Blimey, CdM, there are enough components there to make eight words ! EG ST L IC ER/HM {we hear = sounds like} A/B/C/D/E/F/G(plural) DIX PP ST/RD N/S/E/W(plural) AT EL AB(S)/TAR .... and that's only got us up to the Spanish sailor !
[rab] Very good! Although it is actually a strict Ximinean clue. Details: The last four words are the cryptic part (RE D HER RINGS); the rest of the clue up to "...account" is the definition.
I probably would have noticed that if I wasn't (supposed to be) working at the same time! In the meantime, this has reminded me of one that I've wanted to clue for a while: This clue might be: "500. Precedes solid containing volume of mute's heart"
Here's a clue I saw in an Acorn User crossword in the early 90s, which I've always remembered. It's a long way short of perfect, but still, I liked it... Yalp? (8)
Like this? (4-11) [rab] well, yes, I was aware that was a flaw; I was hoping to get away with a loose sense of ultimate = end. And I want yours to be DEFINITION, but I can't figure out why.
My clue is wrong. Sorry, it should read: This clue might be: "500. Follows solid containing volume of mute's heart" (10) which might give a clue in its own right.
CdM's is either self-explanatory or self-descriptive; rab's is maybe convoluted: vol & ut in cone; 500 = D. PS. Do we really need hidden text in this game?