E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bedfordshire.
I am off to Bedfordshire. To the land of Nod, to bed. The language abounds with these puns, e.g. “the marrowbone stage,” “A Dunse scholar,” “Knight of the beer-barrel,” “Admiral of the blue,” “Master of the Mint” (q.v.), “Master of the Rolls” (q.v.), etc. And the French even more than the English.
