| BENJONSON | Playwright, born 1572, described as England's first real poet laureate (3,6) |
| JOHNDONNE | English Metaphysical poet, born 1572, whose works included The Flea (4,5) |
| JONSON | Ben -; English dramatist identified as England's first poet laureate who also established the "comedy of humours" (6) |
| ROSEPETAL | Real poet's written about a bit of a floribunda (4-5) |
| PRIVATION | Putting a VIP into first real bad lack of comfort |
| HANSBERRY | "A Raisin in the Sun" playwright born 5/19/1930 |
| BAGATELLE | Delivery securing wicket, England's first, in game |
| ASHMOLEAN | England's first public museum (1683) (9) |
| BUMBLEBEE | - - - Barbarians, England's first mixed ability rugby team, is buzzing (6,3) |
| CONQUEROR | William the ____, byname of England's first Norman king, who acceded in 1066 (9) |
| EYESTRAIN | Problem with vision England's first coach conceals very well |
| SEAMUSHEANEY | Irish poet and playwright born in 1939 noted for translating Beowulf (6,6) |
| REPTON | Capability Browns successor as Englands pre-eminent landscape gardener whose work can be seen at Dyrham Park, Cobham Hall, Longleat Estate and Sheringham Park (6) |
| PETERBLAKE | British Pop Art painter whose works include 1961's The First Real Target? (5,5) |
| RUSSIANROULETTE | Sudden-death contest in which the first real shot is decisive |
| UGO | First real name of Pope Gregory XIII |
| NORA | Canadian actress Susan Clark's first real name |
| ICICLES | Island groups ignore first real signs of winter (7) |
| ASARULE | Generally, a student's first real uniform gets crumpled (2,1,4) |
| MARKETPLACE | Making first real packet, worked where things are sold (11) |