The earliest recorded Shrovetide ball game comes during the High Middle Ages (1066–1272) from the cleric William Fitzstephen in his description of London "Descriptio Nobilissimae Civitatis Londoniae" (c.1174–83). The game he witnessed was played at Carnival, an alternative name for Shrovetide, from the Latin "Carnilevaria", a word variant of "carne levare" meaning to "leave out meat" an act of abstinence for Lent. Then as now games were played in the afternoon. His account suggests playing ball at Carnival had been an annual event for at least a generation.