How did the people of the Middle Ages explain the occurrence of the plague epidemic?

Medieval science knew practically nothing about the origin of diseases, so most often the plague was explained by mystical reasons. The priests talked about God’s punishment, there were all sorts of stories about the rain of snakes, from which the infection went, about a huge fiery whirlwind that spewed out a plague. During the years of the epidemic, distrust of the clergy and the influence of ancient pagan cults grew among the population. With their help, they tried to find and exterminate the “poisoners” who spread the disease among people.