A Description of the City of AETH and Situation of the Castle, with an exact Journal of the Siege, begun the 17 th' of May New Style, till the Capitulation on the 5 th' of June, and Surrender on the 7 th' Together with the New Fortifications made by the French, 1667.   map of city of Aeth 
The Explanation  
A. The Mons Gate. B. The Brussels Gate. C. The Tourney Gate. D. A Horn-Work. E. The Halfmoon of Vallon. F. The Halfmoon of Coffres'. G. The Halfmoon of Recollets. H. The Halfmoon of Brabanoon. I. The Halfmoon of Cambren. K. The Halfmoon of Tournay. L. The Flemish Halfmoon. M. The Mons Half-moon. N. The Luxemburg Bastion. O. The Hanault Bastion. P The Burgundy Bastion. Q. The Namur. Bastion. R. The Limburg Bastion. S. The Brabant Bastion. T. The Flanders Bastion. U. The Artois Bastion. X. An Outwork. Z. The Old Castle. 9 The Anti-Court.  
AETH is a City in Hanault, seated on the River Dendre, 14 Miles North from Mons, as many South from Audenard, and about 20 South West from Brussels. It is a place of good Trade for Linen, and by reason of the Situation near the borders of these three Provinces of Hanault, Flanders, Brabant, it hath been at several times well Fortified, especially by the French, after they had taken it in the Year 1667, for it being granted to them by the Treaty of Aix la Chappelle, Mounsieur Vauban was set to Work, and by great cost it was made a most regular Fortification; which made this most advanced Frontier a place of great Strength. The French was obliged to restore at the Peace of Nimeguen; and belonged to the King of Spain until this present Year.  
May 17th, Aeth was Invested on all sides to the 27th of the same Month in this manner.  
The Troops which composed the Army of the Marshal de Catinat and above 20000 Pioners, being arrived before Aeth the 17th of May and the Posts about it having been possessed, they began to Work on the Lines of Circumvallation. The same Day the Army of the Marshal Duke de Villeroy made a motion and stretched itself as far as Ligne. The Countess de Roeux Wife of the Governor of Aeth and greatest part of the Women and Maids having obtained permission of the said Marshal (whose Army made the Siege) went out of the said City. The 18th they began to work on the Lines and to make Bridges over the Dendre. The Mareschals de Villeroy and Catinat with Mounsieur Vauban and other general Officers went to view the Ground towards the Abbey of Cambron, and it was Resolved to put into the said Abbey 6 battalions and a Regiment of Dragoons with order to entrench themselves, and to clap other Troops in Lens in order to shut up the passage from the Enemy. The 19th they continued to bring all things necessary for the Siege of the Place, and the Enemies continued to make a very great fire with Cannon almost without any effect. The 20th the Marshal Duke de Villeroy left Ligne with his Army, and went and encamped at Osticke where the General Quarters were; the Right-wing at Papigny and the Left at Hamede. The Marshal Duke de Boufflers having had Advice that the Prince de Vaudemont had moved the first Line of the Army he Commanded as far as Leubeck upon the Senne a little on this side Hall, made also his Army advance as far as Neaville beyond Soignies. In the Morning the Mareschals de Villeroy and de Catinat made a review of their Armies, and after sent them out to Forage.  
The Lines of Circumvallation being finished, they sent the Pioners home again to their Houses; the same Day about 8 of the Clock at Night they opened the Trenches by two several ways on the side of Brussels Gate; the Count de Tesse Lieutenant General mounted on the Right with Mounsieur de Salis Brigadier and the Sieur de Puy Vauban chief Engineer and two battalions of the Regiment of Poveton and of la March, they made about 1500 Fathom of Trench, and joined in the Morning the two Attacks by a Parallel of 200 Paces from the place; all there works having been made and brought to an entire degree of Perfection without the loss of one Man. The 21d the Marshal de Villeroy made a movement of his Army, and advanced the Left-wing towards the River Dendre over which he cast several Bridges. That Evening he sent a great Detachment to learn News of the Enemy; The same Day a Convoy of 10 pieces of Cannon and 400 Wagons laden with Ammunition and with the Baggage of the Officers was attacked at the Valley of Maude two Leagues from Tournay, from whence it was sent by a part of the Troops of Bavaria consisting of 200 chosen Men Horse and Foot; but a party of the Convoy being advanced at the noise, charged them with so much Vigour that the Commander of the Party was killed with eighteen of his Men and the rest put to flight without any other loss on our side than of three Soldiers Killed, and a Lieutenant of the Swiss Wounded, and so the Convoy arrived safe in the Camp.  
On the 22th The French opened their Trenches before Aeth, and were advanced to the Glacis of the Counterscarp; the same Day their Cannon began to play upon the Town: The Besieged made a Sally with good success, killing several of the Enemy, and Demolishing some of their Works, after which our Men retired in good Order.  
The Night following the Marquis de Vin Lieutenant-General Mounted the Trenches with the Marquis de Vilray Brigadier and 2 battalions of Anjou's and one of Tournay's. The Count de Garcey Marshal the Camp mounted on the Left with 2 Battalions of Humiers and that of Vexin, they pushed on the 2 Trenches within 200 Fathom of the Place, where they were joined the 23th by a Parallel.  
The same Day the Marquis de Constans, who had Orders to throw himself into Aeth to command there, was taken Prisoner by the Troops of the Marshal de Villeroy, and he was conducted the 24th. to Mons. In the Evening they had Advice that the Elector of Bavaria observing that the Post he had taken at Deynse was of no use to him had abandoned it, and made his Army repass through Ghent on its way to join that of the King of England, taking his way behind the great Skelt.  
Major General fagel who camped near Newport came with 12 Bartallions to possess the Post at Deynse, upon this News the Marquis de Crequi received Orders to set forward with his Detachment from those that were upon the Say, to approach the Army of the Marshal de Villeroy at his Camp of Osticke. The Marquis de Montreville came in his room from Courtray, with 20 battalions. The Marshal de Boufflers made at the same time his left Wing to advance near to Cambron, so that the Three Armies were in a readiness to join in a few Hours time when there should be occasion for it. The 24th. in the Evening the Trench was mounted on the Right by the Marquis de Lorray Lieutenant General, and Mounsieur Lee Brigadier, with a battalion of Artois, of one Catinat, and one of Berry; and on the Left by the Marquis de Clerembeaut Marshal de Camp, with 2 battalions of Vermandois, and of one Beauquis. That Night and the next Day they carried on the Trench to the bottom of the Glacis of the Counterscarp. The 25th. at Night the Chevalier de la Teste Lieutenant General, and Monsieur Blegny Brigadier, mounted the Trench on the Right, with Three battalions of the Regiment of Stoapa; and the Marquis d'Vlpion on the Left, with a battalion of Stoapa, and Two of Salis: They finished that Night with the Sappe the Communication of the Two Trenches by a Parallel, and they wrought to raise 5 Batteries of 6 Pieces of Cannon each.  
May 26, The Enemies sent out some Musquetiers, which posted themselves in the Hedges to incommode the Workmen, but they were soon driven away by a Detachment of 200 Men.  
The Chevalier de la Tesse received a Contusion and a Wound on the Side; they lost since the Investure of the Place but 14 or 15 Soldiers, amongst which there were only Two Officers. At Night the Chevalier de Gossion Lieutenant General, and the Marquis de Byron Brigadier, mounted the Trench on the Right, with 2 battalions of the Regiment of Maleurier, and another; and the Marquis de Haurtcourt Marshal de Camp, with 3 battalions of Sarebeck: That Night they finished the 5 Batteries, and the 27th. at Four of the Clock in the Morning they began to Fire from the Batteries upon the right Face of the Bastion of Limbargh, and against the half Moon of Brabancon, and the rest against the half Moon of Cambron, and the left Face of the same Bastion of Limbargh.  
On the 28th Brigadier Lumly being sent out with a Detachment, met with a French Party of 200 Carabineers and 150 Hussars, Commanded by the Colonel of the Hussars, with whom having engaged, the Colonel with a Captain and 20 Men were brought in Prisoners, besides several killed.  
The 29th The Army Commanded by Villeroy and Boufflers were very near each other, and advantageously Posted to cover the Siege, which was carried on by Catinat. The 30th Sir William Russell a Captain in Colonel Coy's Regiment, Commanding an advanced Party in his Majesty's Army, Attacked a party of the Enemy, and took a Colonel and a great many Prisoners.  
On the 31st. The French Carried on their Trenches, and begun to batter the Works of the Town, but with the loss of several Officers; Monsieur Vauban the French King's principal Engineer received a Confusion on his Thigh by a Musket Shot. On the 1st of June the Garrison of Aeth made a very good Defence, having opened their Sivices which drowned several of the Enemy, and several Officers in carrying on their Trenches, though they endeavoured by their Bombs and Cannons to destroy its effects: There were several Bombs throwed into Town which set several Houses on Fire; but were presently Extinguished.  
On the 2 of June his Majesty was Encamped at Genap, and the Elector of Bavaria at Deynss, Villeroy and Boufflers were at their Camps at Lessines and Silly, not far from Aeth: The 3d a person who got out of Aeth reported the French took a Halfmoon after two Repulses and loss of Men, and that there Bombs at last had ruined the Sluices, which had much in convenienced the Besieged, putting several of the Streets in the Town under Water; but at the same time broke the Enemy's Bridges of Communication. Monsieur Negrini Lieutenant-General and second Engineer of France was Killed.  
June 4, One part of the Right of the Bastion of Limburg fell 14 or 15 Yards in length, and we shot from the Breaches of these two Bastions to render it more easy, and cast in Faggots to fill up the Ditch. They perpetually shot from two Batteries of 12 Mortars each, which were placed upon the Cover'd-way before the Demilune, to hinder the Besieged from retrenching behind their Bastions. 5 in the Morning the Ditch was almost filled up, both by Earth and Faggots, in such manner that the Breach became so even that 30 Men might Mount by the Bastion of Namur, and 20 or 25 by that of Limburg.  
The Marshal Catinat Commanded 20 Companies to Attack the place under the Command of Count de Mercia, with an assurance that they could not miss of carrying the place by Assault. But at two of the Clock the Besieged being afraid of a Storm, and being without hope of any succour beat a Parley, and demanded to Capitulate: They sent Hostages at 4 of the Clock; and a little after the Capitulation was agreed upon, in the following Terms.  

I. THat the Besieged should deliver a Gate to the French at 6 in the Morning upon the 6th instant; and upon the 7th That the Garrison should go out at 10 in the Morning by the Breach, with Arms and Baggage, Drums beating, Colours flying, but without either Cannon or Mortar, and to be conducted in 3 Days to Dendermond, and not to Brussels or Audenard as they had requested.  
II. That they should have 50 Wagons to Transport their Baggage, Sick and Wounded; which as 'tis said was above Five Hundred.  
III. That they should have 6 Covered Wagons, but however that they should be searched.  
iv That they should deliver up all the Deserters, and that they should send in Five particular Officers to be kept for Hostages till such time the five Prisoners kept in the Citadel of Anvers since the taking of Namur, upon pretence of pay due to the Inhabitants by the French.   
These Articles were executed; the 7th the Garrison marched out to the Number of 2500 Men, with the Governor the Count de Reaux, and next to him the Prince of Anhault at the Head of them, and other Principal Officers, who saluted Marshal Catinat, and the Duke de Tholouze as they passed along. The five Hostages for the Prisoners of Namur were delivered, to wit the Prince of Chimay Knight of the Golden Fleece, The Sieur de Catoire Lieutenant-Colonel, a Major and two Captains, and were the same Day conducted to Valenciennes. Above one half of the Italian battalion Deserted and put themselves into the King's Service: So the City of Aeth one of the strongest and best Walled places of Europe was taken in 13 Days after the Trenches opened, with the loss only of 50 Soldiers, and the Sieur Courtin Ingenier Killed, The Sieur Frene Gentleman of the Horse to Marshal Duke de Villeroy, the Sieur Emonia Captain of the Artillery Carriages dead of their Wounds. 150 Wounded, among whom was a Captain of Granadiers and 7 Ingineers,   

LONDON: Printed by G. Croom at the Blue-Ball near Bride-well-Bridge, 1697. Price. 2 d.