CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Noble vessel ET used to show the utmost a person is capable of (4,5,4)

9. Is harsh and shrill but given credit among various cheeses (9)

10. First villain to lean out, being open to bribery (5)

11. Is to take one to court as the ultimate result (5)

12. Moneymaker might cause it to be taken with lamb (4,5)

13. Girl a man takes out is giving one a fright (8)

15. Beware Virgil’s gift-bearers (6)

18. A message that’s run (6)

20. A whole compass of tones and soap I composed (8)

23. How to cook a chop, being in exultant spirits (4-1-4)

24. That is not a belief in what Aesop wrote (5)

25. Strip of wood one takes to be a stick in India (5)

26. Underhand dealings flankwise (2,3,4)

27. Hate, by Shelley, to put one in confinement (3,2,3,5)

DOWN

1. Sent one boat out for the unyielding (9)

2. Where East meets West, or vice versa (7)

3. A loyal vassal caught for example in falsehood (5)

4. Evincing urgency makes them even more confused (8)

5. Around North Sligo it’s on the way out (6)

6. Listen in as initially ear proved faulty (9)

7. It’s not up to certain hairstyling (7)

8. Own about fifty and make twenty-five of it (5)

14. My talent I get from a type of mind (9)

16. Is not conscious of being inane (9)

17. Send and put an end to one (8)

19. One-man concert with air Celt composed (7)

21. U-boat may be left to sink down (7)

22. Band of emigrants cool out at the Big Apple (6)

23. One clad in such a way gets warm (5)

24. I’m backing away from Flemish meat (5)