subs. (familiar).—Bed: cf. SHEET ALLEY (q.v.), BLANKET FAIR (q.v.), THE LAND OF NOD (q.v.), etc.

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  1665.  COTTON, Poetical Works (1765), 76.

        Each one departs to BEDFORDSHIRE,
And pillows all securely snort on.

2

  1706.  WARD, The Wooden World Dissected, 26. By the Time he has unloaded his Pockets, he is floated off his Legs and then drives upon the Coast of BEDFORDSHIRE, and there he sticks fast till next morning.

3

  1738.  SWIFT, Polite Conversation, iii. Miss. Indeed my eyes draw straws (she’s almost asleep) … Col. I am going to the land of Nod. Nev. Faith, I’m for BEDFORDSHIRE.

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  1845.  HOOD, Miss Kilmansegg and Her Precious Leg.

        The time for sleep had come at last;
And there was the Bed, so soft, so vast,
  Quite a field of BEDFORDSHIRE clover.

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