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 Linnen , 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 advanc'd 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 Mareschal de Catinat and above 20000 Pioneers , being arriv'd before Aeth the 17th of May and the Posts about it having been posessed , they began to Work on the Lines of Circumvallation . The same Day the Army of the Mareschal Duke de Villeroy made a motion and stretcht it self as far as Ligne . The Countess de Roeux Wife of the Governour of Aeth and greatest part of the Women and Maids having obtain'd permission of the said Mareschal ( 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 Abby of Cambron , and it was Resolved to put into the said Abby 6 Battallions 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 Mareschal Duke de Villeroy left Ligne with his Army , and went and encampt at Osticke where the General Quarters were ; the Right-wing at Papigny and the Left at Hamede . The Mareschal 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 Pioneers 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 Ingineer and two Battallions of the Regiment of Poveton and of la Marche , 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 Mareschal 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 Waggons laden with Ammunition and with the Baggage of the Officers was attackt 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 open'd 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 Marquess de Vin Lieutenant-General Mounted the Trenches with the Marquess de Vilray Brigadier and 2 Battallions of Anjou's and one of Tournay's . The Count de Garcey Mareschal de 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 Marquess de Constans , who had Orders to throw himself into Aeth to command there , was taken Prisoner by the Troops of the Mareschal 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 joyn that of the King of England , taking his way behind the great Skelt .

Major General Fagell who camped near Newport came with 12 Bartallions to possess the Post at Deynse , upon this News the Marquess de Crequi received Orders to set forward with his Detachment from those that were upon the Laye , to approach the Army of the Mareschal de Villeroy at his Camp of Osticke . The Marquess de Montreville came in his room from Courtray , with 20 Battallions . The Mareschal 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 joyn 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 Marquess de Lorray Lieutenant General , and Mounsieur Lee Brigadier , with a Battallion of Artois , of one Catinat , and one of Berry ; and on the Left by the Marquess de Clerembeaut Mareschal de Camp , with 2 Battallions 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 Battallions of the Regiment of Stoapa ; and the Marquess d'Vlpion on the Left , with a Battallion 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 Work-men , 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 Marquess de Biron Brigadier , mounted the Trench on the Right , with 2 Battallions of the Regiment of Malevrier , and another ; and the Marquess de Haurtcourt Mareschal de Camp , with 3 Battallions 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 , Attackt 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 Ingeneer received a Confusion on his Thigh by a Musquet Shot . On the 1st of June the Garison of Aeth made a very good Defence , having opened their Siuices 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 throw'd 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 Half-moon 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 Enemies Bridges of Communication . Monsieur Negrini Lieutenant-General and second Ingeneer 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 Morters 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 fill'd 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 Mareschal 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 Parly , 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 .

These Articles were executed ; the 7th the Garison marched out to the Number of 2500 Men , with the Governour the Count de Reaux , and next to him the Prince of Anhault at the Head of them , and other Principal Officers , who saluted Mareschal 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 Battallion Deserted and put themselves into the Kings 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 Mareschal 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 ,