Fulcher de Chartres relates that Balak in a vision beheld Lord Joscelin tear out his eyes, so he asked his priests to interpret. Truly, they answered, this will happen, or something equally bad, should you fall into his hands. Balak at once despatched men to kill Joscelin, but they arrived too late. What is this if not proof that our Lord contemplates and protects His subjects?
Soon enough every door to the citadel was shut, bolts shot into place, carts rolled against the gates.
During the night, after commending his soul to God, Joscelin crept out followed by three servants and with the aid of divine intercession succeeded in passing through the Turks. Once beyond the walls he entrusted his ring to a servant. Go to the king, said he, with this proof that I have escaped.
Joscelin traveled by night to avoid being seen and got to the Euphrates but did not understand how to swim. Discouraged, weary, he consulted his servants. They had two goatskins of wine so these were emptied, blown full of air, and affixed to him with rope. Thus, helped by lackeys experienced at swimming, he crossed the Euphrates. Now, feeling exhausted, he lay down beneath a nut tree and pulled brambles over himself and told a servant to look for something they might eat. By God’s grace this servant met a peasant carrying dried figs and clusters of grapes. The servant approached cautiously, fearing betrayal. We are told by Odericus Vitalis that the peasant was a Saracen who in his youth had been Count Joscelin’s vassal. Whatever the truth, when they got to the river bank where Joscelin was resting the peasant hailed him by name and dropped at his feet. Joscelin said he had escaped from the castle of Balak in Mesopotamia and was a fugitive, a wanderer about to perish. If you help me so I do not fall into the hands of Balak, he said, you may spend the rest of your days with me at Turbessel. Let me know the value of your house and I will give you a better house.
The peasant replied that he asked nothing but would guide Count Joscelin to safety. Then he went away. After some time he came back with a donkey, two oxen, a pig, his wife, infant daughter, and two brothers. Joscelin who customarily rode a splendid mule got on the donkey and the child was given him to hold. Thus they continued the journey. It is said that Joscelin grew distraught when the infant screamed or cried and thought of abandoning this company, thinking it might be safer to proceed alone, but he did not want to offend the peasant. At length they got to his castle and he gave the peasant two yokes of oxen.
Next he assembled his knights and rode to Antioch, thence to Jerusalem where he praised God and made an offering of the shackles he had worn in Balak’s dungeon, hanging them reverently upon Mount Calvary in recognition of his captivity and glorious liberation. One shackle was made of iron, the other silver.
After three days in the Holy City he set out to rescue his king. But when he reached Kharpurt he learned that Balak had stormed the citadel. King Baldwin du Bourg and Lord Galeran were once again captive and had been sent under close guard to the distant city of Harran. As to the Armenians who helped Joscelin escape, Balak cruelly tortured them, ordering them burnt, hanged, flayed, thrown from ramparts, buried alive, bound to stakes as targets. Balak’s harem was quartered at the citadel and by various accounts these brave Armenians, succumbing to allurements of the flesh, delighted in Balak’s women. God knows the truth. However it was, Lord Joscelin went mad with rage and devastated the countryside.
Sixteen months or more Baldwin du Bourg languished in chains while the Franks negotiated his release. Turks demanded a kingly ransom, eighty thousand gold dinars with certain lands belonging to Antioch. After twenty thousand dinars had been paid, King Baldwin was freed, leaving hostage his youngest daughter Joveta, aged five. Midsummer of that year 1124 he rode away from prison on the handsome charger he was riding when he decided to camp in a muddy field near the Euphrates. Turks had kept this animal well. Also, they lavished gifts upon him. Gold helmet, a rich robe, embroidered buskins. Accordingly he rode to Antioch like some Oriental sultan.
Bernard, who was patriarch in those days, pointed out that while Baldwin might be overlord and regent of Antioch he had promised to surrender land that was not his to give. The king heard this with great satisfaction and hastily notified the Turk that he would, as agreed, remit the full amount of gold. However, he could not lawfully cede the land. Documents assert that in reprisal the child princess Joveta was handled lasciviously. If so, we can but ask with others from ages past. Why thus, Lord God?
Joveta was at length ransomed, in due time after she had grown to womanhood becoming abbess of the convent of Saint Lazarus in Bethany. Therefore we note how the Creator determines each event from beginning to end.
Anon the heathen governor of Manbij, puffed with pride, thinking himself superior to Balak, decided to revolt. Soon enough here came Balak with five thousand horsemen, invited the governor to a conference outside the walls. Then what did Balak do but perfidiously take the governor’s life. So the people, believing their own lives forfeit, sought help from Christians. Lord Joscelin hastened out of Antioch. Fulcher tells how a desperate battle took place. Horses whinnied, asses brayed, camels grumbled. Fields and roads glistered in fresh blood. Three times did Lord Joscelin repulse the Turks. Three times they returned to fight. Thirty Frankish knights and sixty footmen who were driving sumpter beasts went to sleep with the Lord while three thousand advocates of the devil plunged bellowing into the fiery pit. So much according to Fulcher. Yet, as we
