On the one hand, The Art posed a threat to the control of precious metal and was often outlawed on the other hand, there were obvious advantages to any sovereign who could control gold making. The official attitude toward alchemy in the 16th to 18th century was ambivalent.

As rational a scientist as Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727) had thought it worthwhile to experiment with it. The possibility of chemical gold making was not conclusively disproved by scientific evidence until the 19th century.

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Alchemy & mysticism by alexander roob