Mannock Strickland kept his accounts, in his own hand, in two series of vellum-bound cash day books, arranged so that receipts are on the lefthand page and the payments ‘Per Contra’ run in a synchronised sequence on the facing, right-hand, pages. The main series of four working books covers all his business; some entries are coded to show the banker used for particular transactions (Blount MSS, E 49, 1726–33; E 50, 1733–39; D 33, 1739–43; and D 34, 1743–44).

The second series contains fair-copy accounts for individual clients. Those for three convents are in one of these books (Blount MSS, D 31):

Louvain 1733–41 and 1742–44, fols 51–71 and fols 82–88

Spellikens, fols 71–78

Dunkirk 1728–44, fols 20–36, and, under the name of Lady Fleetwood, 1727–29, fols 16–18

This volume also contains accounts held by Phebe Brailsford, Charles Bodenham, Lady Mary Radclyffe and her executors.

A third volume (Blount MSS, D 30) contains accounts held by William Petre junior, the Petre estates, Jarrard Strickland, Lettice Wybarne, John Wybarne and Anne Viscountess Carington; it also contains the opening entry for Lady Crispe of Brussels for a similar account for the English Benedictines at Brussels.

Account books were kept for Edward Paston in the years 1720–44 (Blount MSS, D 32), for Roger Strickland (Blount MSS, E 48), and for his sister Mrs Stafford, for his nephew Edward Stafford and for Mrs Betty Molyneux in the years 1718–43 (Blount MSS, E 45).

Dates and currency

It has proved less confusing to retain the original very clear dating in the accounts. The nuns in Flanders always followed the New Style (NS) Gregorian dating in use in their host countries. Strickland always used English Old Style (OS) Julian dating, while noting the NS dating of the letters to which he was responding. His usage is so clear that confusion is unlikely, despite the oddness of his appearing to send a response before the receipt of letters.

Both Strickland and the nuns retained the old practice of observing New Year on 25 March (Lady Day). Where applicable, the editor has added both years for dates falling between 1 January and 25 March.

Unless otherwise indicated, currency is shown in sterling as entered.