The Wonderfull Yeare facts for kids

The Wonderfull Yeare is a famous pamphlet written by Thomas Dekker in 1603. This year was very important for England. It saw the death of Queen Elizabeth, the start of King James I's rule, and a serious outbreak of the bubonic plague. Dekker wrote this pamphlet to share his thoughts on these big events.

What Was Happening in 1603?

Before 1603, Thomas Dekker was a playwright in London. He wrote plays for the theater. But in 1603, the plague spread through London. This caused all the theaters to close down. To earn money, Dekker started writing pamphlets instead. A pamphlet is like a small book or a long article. Dekker was one of many people in London affected by the plague, even though he did not get sick himself.

Dekker's pamphlet, The Wonderfull Yeare, talks about the surprising and amazing events of 1603. The word "wonderful" here means "full of wonder" or "astonishing." This year was a time of big changes and uncertainty for England.

The End of an Era: Queen Elizabeth I's Death

Dekker first writes about the death of Queen Elizabeth I. She had been queen since 1558. He felt sad about the end of the Elizabethan era, which many people called a "golden age." Dekker describes how England's happiness suddenly ended when the Queen died. He even talks about "Death" as if it were a person, blaming it for taking the Queen's life.

When Queen Elizabeth died, the news made many people very sad. Dekker writes that it "tooke away hearts from millions." People across England mourned her death. He even included some poems written for her funeral. Many people at the time, including Dekker, believed the plague outbreak was a sad result of the Queen's death.

A New King: James I Takes the Throne

Next, Dekker writes about James I becoming king. He says that the news of a new king helped to ease the sadness people felt after Elizabeth's death. It was a very quick change. One day, it was against the law to say "God save King James of England." The very next day, it was against the law not to say it!

Dekker felt that the "golden age" feeling returned when King James I first started his rule. But this hopeful feeling did not last long. When the plague hit London in the summer of 1603, people became sad and worried again.

The Horrors of the Plague

The rest of The Wonderfull Yeare describes the terrible plague epidemic of 1603. It affected both London and the areas around it. Dekker also gives the plague a personality, blaming it for the thousands of deaths it caused. He explains that the plague was hard to avoid. It affected everyone and took its victims very suddenly. Dekker noted that the number of people dying from the plague could double from morning to night.

In the end, Dekker concluded that "Death" always wins. The widespread fear and struggle to avoid death in 1603 made everyone feel helpless.