Vampire Folklore – The Hunderprest of Melrose Abbey
The Hunderprest stalks the land…
Melrose Abbey is located near the town of Melrose on the Scottish Borders. The origin of the name Melrose is thought to be Mailros, meaning "the bare peninsula". This refers to a neck of land close to the River Tweed to the east, where the abbey was founded in the 6th century. However, this was eventually abandoned.
In the 12th century, King David I of Scotland took the throne and declared his intention to create a new Cistercian abbey, which was built at the site of today’s town, and was also called Melrose. Over the years a settlement gradually building up around it. Eventually, the abbey fell into ruin after the Reformation. Today, its remains make for an imposing sight. Its legend is a chilling one.
The abbey was said to be the home of a revenant - a medieval equivalent of a zombie, with an added dash of vampire for good measure. The name of this fearful being was the Hunderprest.
The Legend
There was a chaplain, well known for his many vices; his chief pleasure was hunting with his pack of dogs, and this earned him the nickname ‘Hunderprest’, meaning ‘Dog Priest’. John Lang, in his book Stories of the Border Marches, has this to say of the wicked old clergyman: “Other things he also loved that made not for sanctity, and when, at last, he died, his death was no more holy than his selfish, sensual life had been.”
When he finally died, his spirit could find no rest, and his dark revenant was seen stalking the border town at night in search of blood. No sober man would leave his home once the sun’s rays ceased to kiss the land. Desperate, the poor townsfolk turned to the abbey for a solution to their plight. Four monks were chosen to confront him. They decided to watch the old priest’s grave, and that first night they were terrified to see the ghoulish entity rise from the grave and stalk menacingly in their direction. The lead monk, armed with a staff, repeatedly struck at the undead being whilst praying aloud, until eventually it retreated back into its grave.
The monks knew they were dealing with a revenant, and also knew how to dispose of the supernatural menace. Awaiting daylight, they returned to the Hunderprest’s grave armed with tools for digging, and proceeded to exhume the revenant priest’s corpse. They found the body in its coffin, remarkably well-preserved, with fresh blood about its lips. They burned the corpse scattering the ashes to the four winds.
And yet, something of the Hunderprest still remains, and even today local folk speak of hearing the muted cries of the wicked old sinner coming from the abbey ruins on nights when the moon is fat.
During the 17th to 19th centuries, the legend saw something of a resurgence, with the evil priest adopting more vampire-like qualities. In the new retellings, he could turn into a bat and would drink the blood of his former mistress…
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