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Granama1, the poet/writer in 10a was Irish, not Scottish. My bad. Known by just the initials

Ah, thanks Dodgepot, found the buck...rather embarrassing as it's in Bradford's!

Interesting that there's nothing to indicate 'old' or Shakespearean for the buck but there's quite a bit of difference between the clueing and some modern 'conventions'.

Also in the amazing Bradford’s …

That is interesting, actually …

Looking through again there are maybe three archaisms or poetic usages which aren’t indicated as such in the clues, but that may reflect the current version of Chambers. They are all in Bradford’s, and at least one is not indicated as such in my 1972 version of Chambers. I don’t think it is a huge barrier to solving, but it’s worth being aware of

I got there in the end but still have one ??

3d Prince - a star besieged by 2,000? On the contrary (5)

I have an answer which is an anagram of a star but can't see what the 2,000 is doing.

13d had me puzzled for a while until I started anagramming the last two words with 'cancelled - sun'.

I can see why there were few correct submissions given the difficulty of the clueing and the likely lack of electronic versions of Chambers and anagram apps etc back then. I found the clueing rather different from current styles too, but I do wonder how strict they were in the placement of the final component given the exactly and the term 'describe'.

Quite a challenge, not unfair, but very tough. Thanks again for the link. 👍

It’s not an anagram. It’s the mediaeval Roman numeral for 2000 inside a star, definition being prince

Thanks Dodgepot. I was rather mislead by the fact that Bradford's has an exact anagram of the Prince as a star.

I was fortunate not to have noticed that.

It was a fascinating solve. Beautifully clued, I thought. Now it looks like a D/E grade Magpie, but I know I wouldn't have been able to complete the puzzle 30 years ago. I lacked the relevant knowledge, and I wouldn't have been able to work out where to look in my library. Google has made these puzzles accessible in a way they never were before. I doff my hat to the eight who succeeded.

I'll explain my view on the highlighting when others have gone as far as they wish.

I still need to solve 4a and 5d. I also need to find the theme.

4a Very expensive strike — left following afternoon (4)
5d “The Rainbow Temple" Elgar orchestrated before long (9, two words)

Any hints?