The Rise and Fall of Francis the Great

It took months as Francis stalled for time, dithered, and played Charles as best he could. In the meantime, Louise of Savoy was a pretty cool customer. When Charles wrote her a letter in his own hand, setting initial terms for Francis's relief, she simply wrote back that his demands were excessive and exorbitant. The emperor had enemies, enemies everywhere, and Louise turned them all against Charles with shocking ease.