In August 1562 a destructive hailstorm affected the south-western German city of Wiesensteig. Count Ulrich von Helfenstein, the region’s ruler, had no doubts as to the culprit. He ordered and carried out a witch-hunt that destroyed more than sixty witches for causing the storm, robbing children of their baptism and infanticide. Witch trials occurred throughout Reformation Europe and had the support of Luther and Calvin. The worst hunts were in areas suffering from the plague but most accusations involved the cursing of agricultural implements and livestock, arson, love magic, the discovery of stolen objects and the brewing of deadly storms.