Above these doors were the high windows of the upper storey, the Hall having two floors. These windows were alternately glazed and blind--a method frequently adopted in the Middle Ages, to avoid weakness in the walls, without detracting from the symmetry of the exterior. This storey was reached by staircases, access to which was gained through doors at each end of the façade. The glazed windows were decorated with three trefoils supported on two arches. The blind windows were similar to the windows of the ground-floor, except that the latter were less lofty. The two arches formed niches, each of which contained a statue: that of a Count of Flanders (the Counts and Countesses from Baudoin Bras-de-Fer to Charles Quint were represented) or of a notable citizen of Ypres, such as Melchior Broederlam, the painter. These statues, some of which were restored in the 19th century, rested on a corbel apparently supported by a small figure bearing the coat-of-arms of the sovereign represented. [Illustration: YPRES. THE CLOTH HALL, NIEUWERK AND CATHEDRAL (in the background) _The 13th--14th Hall had a magnificent façade, surmounted by a high bell-tower_ (_photo, Antony, Ypres_).] The upper portion of the walls was decorated with an ornamental frieze and a battlement bordered with fine moulding. The frieze was composed of a tricusped arcade with small columns carried on corbels with carved heads. Behind the battlements ran a sentry-way, while at the ends of the façade turrets decorated with arcades and surmounted by octagonal spires, served as watch-towers. [Illustration: THE WINDOWS OF THE FIRST STORY OF THE CLOTH HALL _Every alternate window was blind, and was ornamented with statues of the Counts of Flanders or other notable persons of the city_ (_photo, Antony, Ypres_).] The Belfry rose from the centre of the buildings, of which it was the oldest part, the foundation-stone having been laid by Baudoin =IX=., Count of Flanders, in 1201. Square in plan, it consisted of three stories. Its exterior, like that of the façade, was decorated with arches, and was lighted with windows ornamented with trefoils. It had two rows of battlements, four corner-turrets, and a timber-work roof surmounted by a campanile, above which rose a small spire. At the base of this campanile there were four copper eagles, dating from 1330. At the foot of the belfry a door, flanked by two pilasters, led to the inner court of the Hall. Over this door was a modern statue of Nôtre-Dame-de-Tuine, with the Lion of Flanders above.