A devious and unholy monk known as The Hunderprest, was stated to hang-out the countryside on the Scottish border in addition to Melrose Abbey. Was this specter actually a bloodsucking vampire?
Within the Scottish Borders, the ruins of Melrose Abbey have stood for the reason that Twelfth century as a brooding, atmospheric relic of medieval piety and energy. Melrose is a seemingly image good place, drawing folks in as one of the best salmon and trout fishing within the nation.
The Melrose Abbey is on the north east facet of the city heart and among the extra iconic buildings from the realm. Behind its stunning Gothic arches and solemn grave markers lies a darkish legend: the story of the Hunderprest, or the canine priest, a vampiric monk whose foul deeds and undead existence chilled even essentially the most religious.
The Mysterious and Magical Melrose Abbey
The Abbey was based by a colony of Cisterian monks in 1136 by the River Tweed. As soon as, it was stated a miracle occurred right here, when the corn of their cellar multiplied within the time of an incredible famine, and the monks may feed all of them. This and extra miracles have been stated to have been carried out by Abbot Waltheof, the stepson to King David I of Scotland.
By its time of operation it was one of many wealthiest monasteries in Scotland, however via all of the years of battle on the Scottish border it was badly broken by the English in 1385 and rebuilt within the late 14th century.
Right now it’s a museum, though a giant a part of it’s now lichen-covered ruins. Within the Chapter Home there’s a burial casket of a coronary heart, thought to belong to King Robert I, additionally known as, The Bruce. In 1812, an outdated stone coffin was discovered near the altar, considered the ultimate resting place of Michael Scot, the mysterious Scottish wizard from the thirteenth century, stated to have modified the River Tweed together with his workers and turned the only peak of the Eildon Hills to the three we see at this time.
However not all miracles have been as magical as these great issues. Some say that the magic occurring across the cloister was additionally the work of evil, even perhaps a bloodsucking vampire.
The Hunderprest of Melrose Abbey
In response to medieval chronicles, the Hunderprest was a monk of Melrose Abbey in the course of the Twelfth or thirteenth century. The Cistercian monks who lived and worshipped there had constructed the Abbey, the primary Cistercian Abbey within the nation, on the behest of King David I. They have been well-known for his or her Melrose wool they bought to the remainder of Europe.
Although little is thought about his mortal life, legend says he was a person of nice vice and depravity, a predator hidden behind a behavior, whose sins have been so grave that even in demise, the earth rejected him.
Precisely what his sins have been isn’t explicitly stated all the time, however he was usually claimed to have been a womaniser and drunkard, bringing disgrace upon his order. The area was a spot of unlawfulness although, being managed by unbiased clans known as The Border Reivers that always clashed collectively in violence. It was each a time and place of ruthless lawlessness.
Some say that in life, he was a chaplain to a woman who lived close by. He was given the title Hundeprest as his favourite factor to do was searching on horseback as a pack of howling hounds adopted him.
Some accounts declare he practiced the black arts in secret, whereas others allege unspeakable acts dedicated below the guise of religious authority. The locals whispered of his unnatural appetites and sinister nature — rumors that appeared confirmed after his passing.
The Undead Haunting of the Abbey
Due to his sins in life, there was no means he was moving into heaven, and his soul couldn’t discover any peace. Livestock have been discovered drained of blood, villagers claimed to see a shadowy determine lurking close to graves, and monks reported being stalked by a ghastly presence inside the cloisters at night time.
He tried to enter the Abbey within the night time within the type of a winged bat, solely pushed away after vigorous prayer and rituals from the monks. As a result of he was unable to cross the edge to the holy floor, he wanted one other place to torment.
He discovered the cottage to a girl who he had recognized when he was alive. Stated to be the lady he had been the chaplain for in life. She was additionally rumored to have been his lover. Her neighbors reported {that a} vampire roamed round her home, moaning and screeching at her, scaring her. Each night time he returned to torment and terrorize, lusting after her blood. Due to this, they determined to summon an elder monk from the abbey for an exorcism.
The Exorcism of a Vampire
Decided to place an finish to the phobia, the abbot of Melrose known as upon the companies of a very religious and brave monk, usually believed to be William of Newburgh, a revered chronicler of supernatural occasions. He ended up writing about a number of monsters and ghosts within the center ages.
In response to the outdated accounts, a gaggle of monks have been put to activity and went to the grave of the priest to analyze. Because the day waned, the priest appeared like he was levitating out of his grave. They managed to shove the vampire again with a workers. Typically that is modified to a mighty axe the monks swung at him. The earth swallowed the Hunderprest like nothing had occurred, the bottom undisturbed once more. That is when the elder monk knew they have been coping with a vampire and knew what to do.
They waited for daylight and dug up his grave once more. They exhumed the Hunderprest’s corpse and what they discovered solely deepened their horror: although lifeless for a while, the monk’s physique was recent, his face ruddy, with blood at his lips curled as much as a smile, traditional indicators of the undead in medieval folklore.
It was additionally stated it was via praying and fasting that they managed to defeat him. How they killed the vampire, though not named as such within the early sources, varies. Did they stake him via the guts? In all probability not, however they do point out setting him on hearth and burning him to ashes as many of the tales of the undead mentions. The legend of the stake got here later.
After they burned him to ash, they took him to Lammermuir Hills the place the wind carried him to the north alongside the borders.
To today, guests to the hauntingly stunning ruins of Melrose Abbey declare to really feel a chilling presence lingering among the many weathered stones. Some report seeing a shadow transferring via the damaged cloisters at night time, or listening to faint whispers within the darkened archways.
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References:
Legend of the “Hunderprest” Vampire of Melrose Abbey
Airhouses – Information – The Unbelievable Legends of Melrose Abbey
The Hunderprest: The Vampire Monk of Melrose.
