The two great theaters of Elizabethan London were the Rose, where Christoper Marlowe's plays were performed, and the Globe, home to the works attributed to Shaksper. Ongoing archaeological work at the sites is revealing information not only about the structures, but also about the theatergoers seated in the galleries and milling about the stage.
Link. Image credit: Museum of London Archaeology
"Food remains and seeds indicate that the preferred snacks were oysters, crabs, mussels, periwinkles and cockles. Walnuts, hazelnuts, plums, cherries, peaches, dried raisins and figs were also popular..."
The distribution of food remains over the site suggested that there was a class divide in the consumption of snacks. [Museum of London archaeologist Julian] Bowsher explained that remains found underneath the gallery seating suggested that the wealthier classes munched on crabs and sturgeon, as well as imported treats like peaches and dried figs. Meanwhile, oyster shells were found scattered all over the yard area, where commoners stood.
"At that time, oysters were indeed the staple diet of the poor," Bowsher said.
Link. Image credit: Museum of London Archaeology
Why not include "works attributed to Marlowe?"
So who actually wrote them and what hard evidence is there?
I believe they were all written by Ainsley Jarvis, Duchess of Nunsuch, and my ninth grade English teacher.
And what, exactly, are "dried" raisins? BTW, the article did not mention it, but there is evidence that plenty of beer was consumed there too.
I spelled his name "Shaksper" because that is how he spelled it. Or, to be more precise, that is ONE of the ways he spelled it. There are reportedly six signatures (on legal documents, I believe) reliably confirmed as those of the man from Stratford; all six are spelled in different ways (Shaksp, Shakspe, Shaksper, Shakspere, Shakspere and Shakspeare). The Stratford man appears to have been rather flexible re his legal signature.
Someone, please stop me before I spell check again.
Read more at this site:
http://www.cracked.com/article_17246_when-lobster-was-spam-5-gourmet-foods-that-used-to-be-cheap.html
The Shakespearean establishment argue hard for the man from Stratford. His six signatures come towards the end of his life, all different, some with his hand guided. There is no documented, contemporary proof that he was able to read and write, no proof that he ever attended school.
We Oxfordians have great fun teasing the Stratfordians... and the case continues.