Retreat by itself occurs only three times, but in company with Alarums and [or] Excursions may be found in 16 other places. The whole 19 cases occur in eleven plays.
The word explains itself. The actual notes of a Retreat of Shakespeare's time are not known.
In the text it has the same meaning.
H. 6. A. 22, 3. 'Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit.'
H. 6. B. 48, 4. 'Dare any be so bold to sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill'?
H. 4. A. 54, 159. 'The trumpet sounds retreat; the day is ours.'
H. 5. 32, 89. Macmorris, 'the work ish give over, the trumpet sound the retreat.'
March, Dead March.
There are 18 marches provided for altogether; 4 are Dead Marches; 3 National—viz., English, French, and Danish; and 11 ordinary military marches.
Probably all are identified with Drums, without any other instruments. For the three national marches, see H. 6. A. 330 and 33, and Hamlet 32, 91.
Hawkins gives (Hist., p. 229) the text of a Royal Warrant of Charles I., ordering the revival of the
