US & Canadian Versions: 21. Maid and the Palmer
[The only traditional US version purported to be a version of "The Maid and the Palmer" was collected by John Jacob Niles and appears in his 'The Ballad Book," pages 88-89. Because of the version is short, the Ballad Index says, "it could equally be part of Child 20." In my opinion the inclusion of the "steppingstone" in Verse 1 is evidence that this fragment is more likely a version of Child 21.
"Seven Years" is reported by John Jacob Niles as "obviously a condensed version of No. 21." Niles writes that he collected the fragment from a girl, a child of the Holcomb family about nine years old, who got the verses from an uncle. The date is given as July 7, 1932 and the location Kingdom Come Valley, KY.
As Wilgus has reported, Niles has admitted recreated some of his ballads. This has been known by the folk community for some time.
R. Matteson 2012]
SEVEN YEARS- Holcomb; July 7, 1932; Kingdom Come Valley, KY Collected John Jacob Niles
1. Seven long years you shall atone,
Derry leggo derry don,
Your body be a steppingstone
Derry leggo derry downie
2. For your sins be as the sea,
Derry leggo derry don,
You slew your babies three,
Derry leggo derry downie
3. Though my sins be as the sea,
Derry leggo derry don,
I make a stone for thee,
Derry leggo derry downie