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A lot of the clues are associated with "the scottish play". I have one not solved and another I don't fully understand.
The unsolved is 2dn For example, removed branches over soldiers (4)
I have O?E?
It isn't "omen" is it? "men" could be soldiers, but I don't see the rest.
The other is 26ac Surprisingly full-blooded 1across king (6) D?N?A?
1 across is "scottish"
I think it must be DUNCAN (the scottish king murdered by the Macbeths), but I don't se the rest of it.
Any suggestions, please?

References to Macbeth? Duncan - "who would have thought the old man had so much blood in him?" Lady Macbeth, (from memory may not be exact) and the prophesy about Birnam wood coming to Dunsinane when the soldiers covered their heads with tree branches? Omen and Duncan look good.

Thanks AB. I should have seen the Duncan reference, as I looked up Mcacbeth in the Dictionary of Quotations to find "bloodstained" and "idiot".
Omen looks probably right too, though a little less convincing!

am not doing the crossword but have seen it said that 2 down , refers back to 25 across.

I found this one a bit of a struggle. Like all themed puzzles it helps if you have some knowledge of the theme

2dn For example, removed branches over soldiers (4)

Omen

For example, removed branches = definition by example (reference to the play)

over = O (cricket abbreviation)

soldiers = MEN

Thanks Mamya. Don't have the crossword either, so no idea whether 25a is relevant.

The crossword is here, as usual: http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords/cryptic/25595

As, of course, are the answers.

25a is the wood that moves as predicted in 2d

25a is the wood that moves as predicted in 2d