| I met then a Collier, that sold me good Coales, | 
| Where two, of foure Bushels, ran out at the holes, | 
| Yet more then full measure, the Collier still cryde. | 
| Well, quoth the Pillory, that shall be tryde. | 
| The Collier sweares heele loose his eares, | 
| But he will falsly deale: | 
| And such are glad as mand the Pad, | 
| For trifles for to steale. For trifles, etc. | 
| The Collier hes a sack of mirth, | 
| and though as black as soote, | 
| Yet still he tunes, and whistles forth, | 
| And this is all the Note. | 
| Heigh downe, dery dery downe, | 
| With the hackney Coaches downe: | 
| They long made fooles | 
| Of poore Carry-coales, | 
| But now must leave the towne. | 
| Grim the blacke Collier, | 
| brings Coales to the towne, | 
| In Sacks more then measure, | 
| yet spends he his crowne, | 
| From the broad Pillory, | 
| to keepe himselfe downe. | 
| Amongst the blue Beadles, | 
| To purchase renowne, | 
| Oh this is an honest Age, | 
| Oh this is a mending Age. | 
| Would Bakers all were honest; | 
| and Colliers sell true measure, | 
| Nor shrinke their Sackes to wrong the poore, | 
| twould doe them mickle pleasure: | 
| Would Souters use good Leather, | 
| and Taylers leave their stealing, | 
| The needy sort should better live, | 
| if all usd honest dealing. | 
| The Carpenters will dine to the Axe, the Colliers will dine at the Sacke, Your Fruterer hee to the Cherry Tree, good fellowes no liquor will lacke.  | 
1. Colliers were selling their coals to townsfolk direct: "Grim the blacke Collier, brings Coales to the towne,"
2. There was very public punishment in place for selling short measure: "Well, quoth the Pillory, that shall be tryde.", "The Collier sweares heele loose his eares,", "From the broad Pillory, to keepe himselfe downe."
3. Colliers were dirty and distinctive looking: "and though as black as soote,", "Grim the blacke Collier,"
4. Lastly, They were well known for selling short measure: "Where two, of foure Bushels, ran out at the holes, Yet more than full measure, the Collier still cryde", "Would Bakers all were honest; and colliers sell true measure, Nor shrinke their sackes to wrong the poore"; these ballads were all published in London after the 1610 statute was enacted in the city regulating the size of colliers sacks to ensure short measure was not given... so a law that was obviously not enforced well as these issues are being sung about years later.
