Some notes from NORTHALL. George F. "English Folk-Rhymes. A collection of traditional verses relating to places and persons, customs, superstitions, etc.", Kegan Paul & Co.: London, 1892. pages 230ff and 276.

Northall states that wrenning is popular in the South of Ireland, Isle of Man and Essex (as well as other English counties). In England and the Isle of Man it is associated with Christmastide generally; St Stephen's day latterly in Man and also in Ireland.

He quotes the following rhyme from Gammer Gurton's Garland, and English book of rhymes (published at Stockport, approximately 1760) ______________________________________________

We'll go a shooting, says Robin to Bobbin
We'll go a shooting, says Richard to Robin
We'll go a shooting, says John all alone
We'll go a shooting, says everyone

What shall we kill, says Robin to Bobbin
What shall we kill, says Richard to Robin
What shall we kill, says John all alone
What shall we kill, says everyone

We'll shoot at the wren, says Robin to Bobbin
We'll shoot at the wren, says Richard to Robin
We'll shoot at the wren, says John all alone
We'll shoot at the wren, says everyone

She's down, she's down, says Robin to Bobbin
She's down, she's down, says Richard to Robin
She's down, she's down, says John all alone
She's down, she's down, says everyone

How shall we get her home, says Robin to Bobbin
How shall we get her home, says Richard to Robin
How shall we get her home, says John all alone
How shall we get her home, says everyone

We'll hire a cart, says Robin to Bobbin
We'll hire a cart, says Richard to Robin
We'll hire a cart, says John all alone
We'll hire a cart, says everyone

The hoist boys hoist, says Robin to Bobbin
The hoist boys hoist, says Richard to Robin
The hoist boys hoist, says John all alone
The hoist boys hoist, says everyone

So the brought her away after each pluck'd a feather
And when they got home, shar'd the booty together
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Along with the Opies' reference to Tom Thumb's Pretty Song Book, (M. Cooper), vol.ii, c.1744 cited by BruceO above, it is clear that we now have dates back to the first half of the 18th century for the rhyme. Given that these things don't just appear from nowhere and that Aubrey's "Miscellany" (published 1696 but written earlier) cited earlier by Malcolm Douglas describes a village wren hunt, it seems possible to conclude that both the rhyme and the practice date from at least the second half ot the 17th Century. Notes from Swainson later.

:-)
Ian