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ON THE SEVEN SECONDARY CAUSES

original title: "DE SEPTEM SECVNDEIS". These "Secondary Causes" are the seven angels who, according to Trithemius, act as intermediaries between God and the physical world, each ruling for 354 years and 4 months.

Zachariel. ♃ The symbol for the planet Jupiter.

The third, Zachariel, the Angel of Jupiter, began to govern the world in the year of the creation of Heaven and earth, 780, in the 8th month—that is, on the 26th day of the month of October. He governed the world for 354 years and four months, up to the year 1063 from the founding of the world, inclusive. Under his guidance, men first began to claim lordship over one another, to practice hunting, to make tents, and to adorn their bodies with various garments. A great division was made between the good and the evil: the good calling upon God, like Enoch, whom the Lord translated original: "transtulit." In biblical tradition, Enoch was "taken" by God so that he did not experience death., while the evil ran after the enticements of the flesh. Under the rule of this Zachariel, men also began to live more civilly, to submit to the laws of their elders, and to grow tame from their former wildness. Under his leadership also, Adam, the first man, died, leaving to all posterity the testament of the necessity of dying. Finally, at this time various human inventions and arts emerged, as historians have more clearly described.

Raphael. ☿ The symbol for the planet Mercury.

THE FOURTH ruler of the world was Raphael, the spirit of Mercury, who began in the year of the creation of Heaven and earth 1063, on the 24th day of February. He presided for 354 years and four months, and his dominion lasted until the year of the world 1417 and the fourth month. In these times, the art of writing was first invented, and letters were first devised after the manner or shape of trees and plants; these, however, later with time took on a more refined ornament, and [changed] the appearance of the characters toward their [own]...
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