Inquisitor 1584

[Ripper]

Help!
I have about 50% of the grid filled in (with some clashes in squares?)
But I have no idea what the preamble is going on about i.e.thematic figure, group, real name.
Please could someone give me a (big) shove in the right direction.
Thanks in advance

[roslyn251254]

the clashes are in
3d/15a WY choose the W
18a /4d ED choose the E
20a /5d LH choose the H
26a/17d YT choose the T

this will give you the theme partly

each of those 5 special clues is connected to a female person
e,g.6d grid entry is FAIR...fair is one of the 3 dens...other 2 defns are MRS and FAX
The female person played Mrs Fairfax
similarly 13a gives anne hath away ...enter hath

[roslyn251254]

the 4 clashes i gave are then repeated symmetrically to give a shape (vaguely)

[Ripper]

Thanks roslyn251254, that'll keep me busy today! I'll let you know how I get on!!

[Ripper]

Well, finally I have the person who played the roles (I'm missing two) but presume I put a 'V' in the centre square.
But as to the motto I've no idea and also the changed letters you helped me with - though I assume when I get the motto those might become clear?

[Ripper]

Just realised it's an 'M' in the centre square!

[roslyn251254]

the motto is on the line above the bottom row which has DENCH in it ...change the S to TH in cloSed

[Ripper]

Thank you Roslyn251254, I'd virtually given up on this one! But now I'll have another look.