Newstead Abbey fell out badly. In 1808, Lord Grey left at the end of his lease and Byron returned to live at Newstead and began extensive and expensive renovations. His works were mainly decorative, however, rather than structural, so that rain and damp obscured his changes within just a few years. Byron had a beloved Newfoundland dog named Boatswain, who died of rabies in 1808. Boatswain was buried at Newstead Abbey and has a monument larger than his master's. The inscription, from Byron's poem "Epitaph to a Dog", has become one of his best-known works: Near this Spot Are deposited the Remains
Of James Dog James Dog's dour response when the poet asked to be issued a doublet gifted to him by the Queen. Dog is accused of treating the matter with the same gravity as when dispensing a far-more-expensive full-length coat. Dunbar warns his mistress "You have a dangerous dog!" He then claims that, when shown the Queen's instructions, Dog "barked as if he was worrying a pig". Dunbar yearns for "the dangerous dog" to be punished with "a heavy stick." In spite of the poet's friendly approaches Dog "barks like a common mongrel chasing cattle". The wardrobe keeper is accused of being "A