Johannes Trithemius. De septem secundeis intelligentiis sive spiritibus orbes post deum moventibus (On the Seven Secondary Intelligences or Spirits that Move the Worlds After God). Also known as the Chronologia mystica (Mystical Chronology). From Opera historica, quotquot hactenus reperiri potuerunt, omnia (Historical Works, Everything that Has Been Found So Far).
Frankfurt: Typis Wechelianis, 1601.

Folio. Vol. 1 of 2: [32] + 412 + [28] pages. 337 x 209 mm. Modern calf binding.

Trithemius’ treatise is devoted to the highest of the three ranks of angelic spirits called upon in advanced steganography. The seven spirits are Orifiel (Saturn), Anael (Venus), Zachariel (Jupiter), Raphael (Mercury), Samuel (Mars), Gabriel (Moon), and Michael (Sun). Each in turn governs the world for 354 years and 4 months, and Trithemius describes the events that occurred during the various governments of each one. This system, and its association with steganography, illustrates Trithemius’ enduring fascination with astrology and desire to integrate the various “arts” into a system in service of Christian theology and the Catholic faith. In the dedicatory preface he anticipates misunderstanding of his purpose, assuring the the emperor, “In all those matters, I believe nothing and admit nothing unless the Catholic Church also believes it. All the rest I repudiate and condemn as vain, feigned, and superstitious.” Those last words were precisely the kind used in criticism of Trithemius’ esoteric investigations.