During the last two years of Henry VIII's reign enrolment of the customs accounts became very erratic and was given up entirely during the next two reigns. The practice recommenced with effect from Michaelmas 1559 and continued until 1604, when it was abandoned for ever. Despite the fact that Hanse cloth exports were now taxed at denizen rates they continued to be recorded separately until 1579, when they began to pay alien rates. Thereafter it is not possible to distinguish Hanse exports from those of other aliens, but the marked fall in the combined figures of the two groups suggests that there was very little Hanse export. During the brief interlude in 1586–7 when Hansards were again allowed to export at denizen rates, their trade is not distinguished from that of natives. By the 1560s Hanse and other alien cloth exports were virtually confined to London; for the trade of this port see the accompanying table.

Figures given in the enrolled accounts form the official record of all cloths (converted to notional short-cloths) which paid custom to the crown. They provide the only possibility of establishing trends in trade, but must nevertheless be used with extreme caution. The figures do not include the duty-free wrapper allowance, which was one cloth in every ten at London and all provincial ports except Hull and Newcastle, where it was two in ten. In order to calculate true exports, many figures in customs accounts have to be adjusted upwards.