Hiya
Its a really lovely song - and it comes from a set of songs which form the story of John Lilburne - leader of the Levellers movement.
Here's a cutnpaste from a record review which explains it better:

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       Cooking Vinyl* released recently the 'Freeborn John' album (COOK CD III) by Rev Hammer and I can recommend it to Maddy fans.
       It tells the story of John Lilburne who was the leader of the Levellers, the radical reformers of seventeenth century England and features Rev Hammer, Rory Macleod, Eddie Reader, The Levellers (as the Levellers) and Maddy Prior.
       Maddy plays the part of John Liliburne's wife Elizabeth and appears on two tracks, 'Elizabeth's Great Gallop' where she duets with Simon Friend and ' Seventeen Years of Sorrow' which is a Maddy solo.
       The CD is certainly worth getting just to hear some new Maddy vocals but I also enjoyed some good songs, some interesting arrangements and I've learnt some history!

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I heard it on a compilation CD, and have loved it ever since. Its great to sing! Dunno if its the right chords, but I sing it in C - just using C,G,F & possibly Am. Easy to figure out.

Kris