Playford Edition:

‘Trenchmore’ can be located in the 2^nd edition of The [English] Dancing Master (1653). 

Documentation Between 1603-1653:

  Information to follow.

Documentation Prior to 1603:

‘The Hunting of the Fox’ is mentioned in Thomas Heywood’s play A Woman Killed with Kindness, (written & performed in 1603/published in 1607).   A footnote in the play states that ‘The Hunting of the Fox’ was another name for Trenchmore.

Act 1; Scene 2; Line 37:

• “Jenkin: No, we’ll have ‘The Hunting of the Fox’.” ⁽¹⁾

‘Trenchmore’ is mentioned in William Kemp’s Nine Daies Wonder, which was published in 1600, to provide proof that William Kemp danced from 100 miles in less than ten days. 

• “This fellow & his half-brother being found with the deed, were sent to Iayle: their other two consorts had the charity of the towne, & after a dance of Trenchmore at the whipping crosse, they were sent backe to London: where I am afraide there are too many of their occupation.” ⁽²⁾

The style of dancing Trenchmore is explained in Thomas Deloney’s The Gentle Craft (1598), where he writes:

• “…like one dauncing the trench more he stampt up and downe the yard, holding his hips in his hands…” ⁽³⁾

The style is also mentioned in Nicholas Breton’s Wit’s Trenchmour, (1597).

•  “…such a Galiard as had a trick above Trenchmour,…” ⁽⁴⁾

In a letter, from Richard Topcliffe to Elizabeth I, dated June 26, 1592, Topcliffe states:

•  “if your Highness’ pleasure be to know anything in his heart,’ simply hanging the priest in fetters against a wall, his feet just off or barely touching the ground, ‘his hands stuck as high as he can reach ..., like a trick at Trenshmeare, will enforce him to tell all, ...” ⁽⁵⁾

‘Trenchmore’ is mentioned in Stephan Gosson’s The School of Abuse, (1577).

• “Domitian suffered playing and dauncing so long in Theaters, that Paris led the shaking of sheetes with Domitia and Mnester the Trenchmour with Messalina.” ⁽⁶⁾

A minstrel, in the play A Dialogue, both pleasant and pityfull... (1564), by William Bulleyn, is described as dancing Trenchmore. 

• “The first record of the tune and dance is in an account of the Christmas festivities at the court of Edward VI of England in 1551, where a list of expenses for the year’s Lord of Misrule (the character responsible for overseeing the celebrations) included, for his dancers, the cost of  thre garments of sarsenett with iij payre of sloppes of owde store, for them that daunsed trenchemore…” ⁽⁷⁾ 

Another reference to the play A Dialogue, both pleasant and pityfull... (1564), was made by William Chappell in his book Popular Music of Olden Time a Collection of Ancient Songs, Ballads, and Dance Tunes Illustrative of the National Music of England Part One (1859), where it is stated:

• "In a Morality, by William Bulleyn, called A Dialogue both pleasant and piety-full, wherein is a goodly regimen against the fever pestilence, &c, 1564, a minstrel is thus described: “There is one lately come into the hall, in a green Kendal coat, with yellow hose; a beard of the same colour, only upon the upper lip; a russet hat, with a great plume of strange feathers; and a brave scarf about his neck; in cut buskins. He is playing at the trea trippe with our host’s son; he playeth trick upon the guttern, daunces Trenchmore and Heie de Gie, and telleth news from Terra Florida”."⁽⁸⁾

William Flood (A History of Irish Dance) also believed that Trenchmore was an Anglicised version of Rinnce Mor or the Rinnce Fada, otherwise known as “the Long Dance… Allusion is made to both these Irish dances in The Complaint of Scotland, in 1549.” ⁽⁹⁾