29. The vampiric Hundeprest haunted Melrose Abbey in the 12th century
Newburgh tells another interesting story about the undead from Scotland. A noblewoman’s chaplain died, and she buried him at Melrose Abbey. In his life, he’d spent more time hunting than praying, so people nicknamed him Hundeprest (‘the dog-priest’). Almost immediately, Hundeprest rose again, tried to break into the abbey, and visited his former mistress. One night, a brave monk lay in wait for the ghoul. When Hundeprest ran at him, the monk cleaved his head with a battle-axe and chased him back to the grave. The next day, the monks burned the intact, axe-wounded corpse to ashes. Hundeprest never returned.
