who uses the word. Perhaps this may be regarded as confirming the view of its foreign origin.
Parley, or Trumpets sound a parley, either alone, or with Retreat. This call is named in the stage directions 7 times in five plays, viz.—H. 6. A. three times; H. 6. B. once; R. II. once; H. 4. A. once; and H. 5. once. It means either a trumpet call announcing an embassy from one party to the other, or for cessation of hostilities during the fight itself. Of course the name is derived from parler, with a reference to the proposed 'pow-wow' of the opposing forces.
The notes of a parley do not appear to exist.
[Perhaps a little light may be got out of the symphony to Purcell's duet in King Arthur, 'Sound a Parley ye fair.']
In the text, the word is used several times. In three cases, John 2205, 226 and H. 5. 33, 2, 'the parle' means the conference of the parties itself, not the trumpet call summoning them. In the rest, 'parle' or 'parley' simply means the sound of the trumpet, as explained above. H. 6. B. 48, 4; R. 2. 11, 192, 33, 33; H. 6. C. 51, 16; Othello 23, 23.
Horns, or Horns wind a peal, or Horns winded.
