The OXFORD BOOK OF NURSERY RHYMES states:
"This rollicking song is traditional in both England and America.... The song has descended from a carol which was probably already old when it happened to be written down on the flyleaf of a manuscript, c. 1500 (Royal MS 19 B. iv) The first verse went
          'It fell ageyns the next nyght
            the fox yede to with all his myghte,
            with-outen cole or candlelight,
             whan that he cam vnto the toowne.'"