"Alas, poor Will! I knew him, Horatio. . . ."
Posted on 11/02/2005 7:30:05 PM PST by SpringheelJack
Controversial plans to dig up William Shakespeare's grave, to find out whether he was murdered by his son-in-law, have been revealed by American scientists.
The US experts, who are convinced the Bard's death was anything but natural, are hoping to be granted permission by his descendants to exhume his body.
Shakespeare died on his birthday on April 23, 1616, and was buried two days later at Stratford-upon-Avon's Holy Trinity Church.
His grave has remained untouched for more than 350 years, but now American pathologists want to disturb his resting place, in spite of warnings of a curse on Shakespeare's tomb if anyone tries to disturb his bones.
They are convinced scientific advances including DNA testing will end years of speculation about Shakespeare being murdered.
Professor James Starrs, of George Washington University in the US, said: " Shakespeare has made it clear that there is no justification for removing his bones. However, there is some consideration of foul play and the possibility that we could positively identify his body, so permission for this project becomes easier to find."
(Excerpt) Read more at icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk ...
And then it started like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons.
Idle curiosity.
BTTT
Epitaph on Himself
William Shakespeare
Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear
To dig the dust enclosèd here.
Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones.
"Alas, poor Will! I knew him, Horatio. . . ."
I have it on good authority that the son-in-law did not murder Shakespeare but did in fact kill Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford.
Wow- what if they find Ben Jonson's body instead?
Bacon
No it's Beggin Strips
Then the case is altered, of course.
Not strips, rashers.
>>The stated reasons for this are fraudulent, IMO.
Yep, cherchez la $$$. Shakespeare was old by the standards of his time, his handwriting looked more than a little wobbly, and they say he'd been out whooping it up just before he died. All of which is way more evidence than the murder theory offers.
His son-in-law was a doctor, no? Married to Shakespeare's apparently illiterate daughter. Interesting family. :)
What??!! Isn't he still alive??
let him - he would deserve whatever he got. (the american)
Hence the title "The Ugly American" rises again.
Yeah, but he hasn't written a decent comedy since he started taking steroids.
Out damned spot!
Let me guess, when they finish the experiments on Shakespeares body, they will conclude that he was really a black, gay woman.
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