







Northern Lateral Screen (clôture) of John Baptist
While Dean Adrien was certainly the patron of the southern screen, here, on the north side, the situation is less clear. It has been suggested that the key instigators were layfolk led by Jean de Béry, seigneur of Essertaux who had married Dean Adrien's neice. Jean de Béry had been master of the confraternity of Puy Notre-Dame. Members of the Louvaincourt and Coquerel families may have also contributed. Execution of the work may be dated in the 1520s with a completion date of 1531. Matching the Saint Firmin narrative, the story of the Baptist pulls the pilgrim forward from west to east from John's ministry and baptism of Christ to his imprisonment and decapitation (matching the Firmin story). The written sources may be found in the Golden Legend and the Postilla of Nicholas of Lyra; also imagery from mystery plays. The narrative culminates in the striking scene of the decapitation of Saint John who appears to tumble out on top of us. At this point the pilgrim may turn to the left and find the door to the upstairs chamber where the head of John Baptist was on display.








Christ appears
Sainct Jhan voyant Jhesus vers luy marcher. Vecy le agneau de dieu (dict il) tres cher.
Saint John seeing Jesus walking toward him Said, "Here is the very dear lamb of God."
Interrogue sainct Jhan quy il estoit. Dict etre voix quy au desert preschoit.
When John was asked who he was He said that he was the voice of one preaching in the desert








John baptizes Christ and preaches
St. John Baptizes Christ
Ihesus entra au floeuve de Jordain. Ou baptesme eust de Sainct Jhan por certain
Jesus went into the river Jordan. Where he was baptized by Saint John for certain.
St. John Preaches
Sainct Jhan preschoit au desert par constance. Adfin que on feict les pechetz penitance 1531.
Saint John steadfastly preached in the desert. So people would repent their sins.