"I calculate that in these latter days more than a tenth part of the people," said Vauban, "are reduced to beggary, and in fact beg." Sweden had for a long time been proffering mediation: conferences began on the 9th of May, 1697, at Nieuburg, a castle belonging to William III., near the village of Ryswick.

These great halls opened one into another; the French and the plenipotentiaries of the coalition of princes occupied the two wings, the mediators sat in the centre.

Before arriving at Ryswick, the most important points of the treaty between France and William III.

were already settled.
Louis XIV.

had at last consented to recognize the king that England had adopted; William demanded the expulsion of James II.