14 across: It's extracted from palm in farming communes(4) _I_I. VICI?
20 across: A conspirator punished by post-mortem beheading, not by stocks (6) ACA _ _S. ACARUS?
9 down: Imported horses, second pair bringing up rear, compete at Braemar? (6) _A_S_ _ No idea.
26 down: Nothing occupying a seat that is rertained by a fastener (5) _IPIN
Zip in I get, but the rest? I like to know how the word is derived
Mir = plural of Mir, meaning commune in Russia but what is the link between Miri and extracted from palm?
Acates = provisions, food i.e. stocks of food. But where does the rest come from?
Warsle = wrestle in Scottish, fair enough, but the origin remains obscure otherwise.
Aha, CATESBY minus BY "With a much-diminished group of followers, Catesby made a stand at Holbeche House in Staffordshire, against a 200-strong company of armed men. He was shot and later found dead, clutching a picture of the Virgin Mary. As a warning to others, his body was exhumed and his head exhibited outside Parliament".
extract miri from miriti (palm)
a catesby (conspirator) without by,stocks is the definition.
walers (horses) with LE moved to the end (warsle is scots for wrestle)
Nothing (zip) occupying a seat (in)