Bartholomew Cubbins is heading to court to sell a basket of cranberries. At the King's court, he is asked to remove his hat in front of the king, which he does but beneath that is another hat! Frantically Bartholomew keeps ripping hat after hat off of his head, only to have another show in its place. The king is angry and irate and has all of his court and companions running around trying to solve this issue. But finally as the hat count gets closer and closer to 500, the hats become finer and grander. Until hat number 500, which is the most elaborate hat that anyone has ever set their eyes on.