Bess of Bedlam, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Bess of Bedlam n.

[SE Bess, generic female name + Bedlam (the Bethlehem Hospital for the insane)]

a lunatic vagrant.

1654		Mercurius Fumigosus 10 2 Aug. 95: How like you this sport my bonny Besses of Great Bedlam?
1821		W. Scott Kenilworth III 7: Why, what Bess of Bedlam is this, would ask to see my lord on such a day as the present?
1845		Cork Examiner 22 Aug. 3/6: After a hard struggle the boats came in in the following order:- Bess of Bedlam (1) Mad Tom (2) Daft Davie (3).
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1882		Sydney Sl. Dict. (2 edn) 1: Bess-o’-Bedlam - A lunatic female vagrant.