though he is not signed with the cross, yet, through the especial grace of your holiness, he hath got very much money from those who are signed, and therefore, I, who am signed and in want, do intreat the like favour." Having succeeded in gaining the favour of the Pope, Longespée raised a company of 200 English horse to join with King Louis on his crusade. To raise funds for his expedition, he sold a charter of liberties to the burgesses of the town of Poole in 1248 for 70 marks, and another to the town of Wareham. During the Seventh Crusade, Longespée commanded the English forces. He became widely known for his feats of chivalry and his subsequent martyrdom. The circumstances of his death served to fuel growing English animosity toward the French; it is reported that the French Count d'Artois lured Longespée into attacking the Mameluks before the forces of King Louis arrived in support. D'Artois, Longespée and his men, along with 280 Knights Templar, were killed at this time. It is said that his mother, Countess Ela, had a vision of the martyr being received into heaven by angels on the day of his death. In 1252, the Sultan delivered Longespée's remains to a messenger who conveyed them to Acre for burial at the church of St Cross. However, his effigy is found amongst family members at Salisbury Cathedral, in England (though it is now identified as 14th century). Matthew Paris describes Longespée's death: Another account of William Longsword's death is written in a poem, although it may pure fiction, from eye witness or from tradition. The Alexander Giffard mentioned in the poem as Longsword's confidant did escape, wounded in five places. In the next generation of his family is found intermarried with the Longswords. Marriage and issue Longespée married Idoine de Camville, daughter of Richard de Camville and Eustacia Basset. They had three sons and a daughter: Ela Longespée, married James Audley (1220–1272), of Heleigh Castle, Staffordshire, son of Henry De Audley and Bertred Mainwaring William III Longespée, married Maud de Clifford, granddaughter of Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, Prince of North Wales in 1254. William died in 1257, in the lifetime of his grandmother Ela of Salisbury, 3rd Countess of Salisbury. Margaret, the daughter of William and Maud, married Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln. Richard Longespée, married Alice le Rus, daughter of William le Rus