Witch, Warlock, and Magician - Historical Sketches of Magic and Witchcraft in England and Scotland #264748

'chemistry is the art of preparing gold and silver. The books concerning it were sought out and burnt by Diocletian, on account of the new plots directed against him by the Egyptians. He behaved towards them with great cruelty in his search after the treatises written by the ancients, his purpose being to prevent them from growing rich by a knowledge of this art, lest, em boldened by measureless wealth, they should be induced to resist the Roman supremacy.'