Melrose Abbey. Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders was founded by Cistercian monks in 1136 at the request of King David I of Scotland. It was badly damaged by the English on three occasions, in 1322, 1385 and 1544 after which it was not fully repaired. It declined as a working monastery and the last monk died in 1590. In 1610 part of the abbey's church was converted into a parisj church for the town of Melrose. Buried in the church is a lead casket said to contain the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce, who rebuilt the abbey after the English attack of 1322.