On one occasion, Charlemagne, arrived at a bishopric on his route back to the palace. The bishop of this particular bishopric would always prepare a great meal for the emperor, however with no previous notice the bishop was not prepared to eat meat on the sixth day of week, it was too late to arrange for fish, but through great effort he was able to obtain was a fine cheese.
He ordered and excellent cheese, white with cream, to be served to the emperor. Charlemagne who was always moderate in demands and ready for anything, no matter what occasion, spared the blushes of the bishop and asked for nothing better. He picked up his knife, threw away the skin, which, so he thought was inedible, and began to eat the white cheese.
The bishop could not hold his tongue, and risking loss of his bishopric could not take it.
Why do you do that my lord emperor, you are throwing away the best part?
Charlemagne placed a piece of the cheese skin in his mouth, and slowly he ate it. When finished he replied:
Good host, what you told me was true. Be sure to send two cart loads of cheese just like this to Aachen every year.
Alarmed at the request the bishop informed Charlemagne that he would not be sure if the cheese he could obtain would all be of this quality.
Charlemagne suggested in response that the bishop cut into every cheese he obtains to “ensure the quality”. Any cheese that does meet quality not would be kept by the bishop.
Each year the bishop would do what Charlemagne asked, tasting and only presenting Charlemagne with the tastiest of cheeses. After the third year Charlemagne presented the bishop with a great estate which produced wine and corn providing great wealth for the bishop’s family for many generations.
Source: Charlemagne – Notker the Stammerer (paraphrased from penguin books “The Two Lives of Charlemagne”)
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