In the seventh century a Council sitting at Toledo declared those who ate meat during Lent to be sinners unworthy to take part in the Resurrection. From that time until the eleventh century, when a gradual reaction set in, the laws of fasting and the punishments inflicted upon the transgressors became more and more strict; interdict and excommunication were among the penalties.
By degrees these became so numerous and different in kind that they were divided into
- Jejunium generale—a fast binding for all.
- Consuetudinarium—local fast.
- Penitentiale—atonement for all transgressions.
- Votivum—consequent upon a vow.
- Voluntare—for the better carrying out of an undertaking.
These again were kept as
- Jejunium naturale—an entire abstinence from food or drink.
- Abstinentia—certain food only, but several times a day.
- Jejunium cum abstinentia—the same food, but only once a day.
- Jejunium sine abstinentia—all kinds of food, but only once a day.
The prohibited food on partial fast days included, during certain periods, not only the flesh of quadrupeds, fowl, and fish, but also the lacticinia, which means all that comes from quadrupeds and birds, such as eggs, milk, butter, and the like.
There are many allusions in old plays to those folk who do not fast through Lent. For instance, in Skelton’s “Colin Clout” (1500) is the following passage:—
Men call you thereforr prophanes,
Ye pieke no shrimps nor pranes;
Salt fish, stockfish, nor herring,