I think it is pretty unlikely that John Dee was a forger.
He was an extremely pious man, so honest that he was constantly taken advantage of by other people. He simply couldn't "see" deceit because it wasn't on his radar. He entrusted his entire beloved library to a relative while he traveled to the continent and it was immediately plundered, something Dee probably didn't expect to happen.
He naively believed all of Kelley's "channeling" were messages from God (or from God's angels) which is why he was taken in by him for so long.
Edward Kelley, on the other hand, was an opportunistic rogue and probably capable of anything, if he could benefit in some way. Two intelligent men with VERY different personalities and ethical stances. I have no doubt that Kelley would forge if he thought he could get away with it.
He was an extremely pious man, so honest that he was constantly taken advantage of by other people. He simply couldn't "see" deceit because it wasn't on his radar. He entrusted his entire beloved library to a relative while he traveled to the continent and it was immediately plundered, something Dee probably didn't expect to happen.
He naively believed all of Kelley's "channeling" were messages from God (or from God's angels) which is why he was taken in by him for so long.
Edward Kelley, on the other hand, was an opportunistic rogue and probably capable of anything, if he could benefit in some way. Two intelligent men with VERY different personalities and ethical stances. I have no doubt that Kelley would forge if he thought he could get away with it.