one o’clock on the 26th of May
I will urge your claim . '' A few hours before the nocturnal burial of old Fraulein Van Hoogstraten , Herr Matanesse Van Wibisma and his son Nicolas appeared before the city , but were refused admittance by the men who guarded the gates , although both appealed to their relative 's death . Henrica 's father did not come , he had gone several days before to attend a tourney at Cologne . Between twelve and one o'clock on the 26th of May , Ascension-Day , the ringing of bells announced the opening of the great fair . The old circuit of the boundaries of the fields had long since given place to a church festival , but the name of `` Ommegang '' remained interwoven with that of the fair , and even after the new religion had obtained the mastery , all sorts of processions took place at the commencement of the fair . In the days of Catholic rule the cross had been borne through the streets in a soleum procession , in which all Leyden took part , now the banners of the city and standards bearing the colors of the House of Orange headed the train , followed by the nobles on horseback , the city magistrates in festal array , the clergy in black robes , the volunteers in magnificent uniforms , the guilds with their emblems , and long joyous ranks of school-children . Even the poorest people bought some thing new for their little ones on this day .