Note to King Lear, 2.3.14: "Bedlam beggars"


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King Lear,
Act 2, Scene 3, line 14
Bedlam beggars: also called "Tom o' Bedlams" and "Abraham men" were lunatic patients of Bethlehem Hospital turned out to beg for their bread.

Tom O'Bedlam by by Norman Lindsay
'Tom O'Bedlam' by Norman Lindsay