The century after the Restoration has been seen as conclusively fatal for so many of the ‘predictive’ cultures of the early modern period. It undoubtedly saw a rising tide of scepticism about astrology, challenged by changing understandings of the heavens. Patrick Curry and Keith Thomas, for example, both found in these years a growing pattern of scepticism and disbelief which made astrologers like John Partridge laughing stocks for many. In addition, although latitudinarianism expressed a continuing faith in the biblical pattern of history well into the eighteenth century, it also saw the beginnings of a more effective challenge to biblical prophecy. Some have gone so far as to find in these years nothing less than ‘reason's’ victory.

It is possible to find evidence which provides some support for this in growing scepticism about aspects of ancient prophecy, especially of Arthurianism and Merlin. Compared to the period before 1660, there was far less interest in, for example, Merlin; even when he did appear, as in The Morning-star, it might be with a commentary critical of most of the texts associated with his name. Some even went so far as to mock ancient prophecies associated with his name. In his Famous Prediction of Merlin, published in half-sheet in 1709 and in the Miscellany in 1711, Jonathan Swift moved from his earlier attack on the partisan astrology of John Partridge (1708–9) into mockery of ancient prophecy.