War, hunger, disease and natural disasters – all these calamities point in one direction only: The end of the world is nigh.
Theologians and other learned people among Protestants and Catholics alike spot omens and evidence everywhere: The Day of Judgement is fast approaching – just like it says in the Holy Bible.
After all, this much misery can’t be coincidence. Accusations fly, of spreading false teachings and thereby heralding the Day of Judgement. But all the congregations of Europe can agree on one other sign that spells doom: The large numbers of witches and sorcerers indicate that the Devil now walks the earth recruiting people for the last battle against God.
Pamphlets feed the fear of the population, describing the wickedness of witches in vivid detail, and recounting how the devil and his minions practice magic causing death, destruction, floods and disastrous shipwrecks.
Now is the time for action! The Devil’s soldiers – the witches – must be hunted down and destroyed before it’s too late.