Possible Clues:

• Noble, perhaps, if it's before time
• King in London losing head at start of day
• ''The ..... bird catches the worm''
• ''... and ___ to rise ...''
• Would one sooner be 5 down?
• Almost topless, yet more than punctual
• Like an eager guest
• Infancy, when Wordsworth had 5 across of 5 down
• So a peer could possibly appear with time to spare?
• Loser to Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley