He wasn't mad, he was fearless due to his moonlight sword It slowly turned him into a beast I think Refer back to what Eileen said at the beginning of the game. "Without fear in our hearts, we'd be no different from the beasts". Something like that anyway But agreed, his story is really sad. Just like everything in Bloodborne

[i]"As it was, Clerics turned into the most hideous Beasts."[/i] -Sword Hunter Badge And the Holy Blade Ludwig of the Healing Church was no exception. Ludwig served under the Church, and was quite the influential member, for it was he that became the first Hunter. When the Old Blood began turning the denizens of Yharnam into Beasts, Ludwig struck them down, in dazzling flashes of Moonlight. Many were inspired, and followed him, employing rifles, and greatswords. Trying to mop up the mess the Church had caused. However, the Church was not immune. As a matter of fact, they were the most vulnerable. Many Hunters fell to the monstrosities born of the Church, but Ludwig never lowered his blade, and by the power of Moonlight, he struck them down, too. However, there was one Beast not even Ludwig could counter. A Beast so great, that he lost sight of his guiding Moonlight. A Beast known as Ludwig, the Accursed. Eventually, the twisted, broken monstrosity that was once Ludwig was killed, but like all those bound to the Church, he was cursed not to die. Instead, he awoke in a Nightmare, to suffer for an Eternity.. At least until a Hunter not part of the Nightmare came to him, and reminded him of who he was.. [i]"Ah.. So you were at my side all along. My true mentor, my guiding Moonlight.."[/i] Ludwig, the Holy Blade. But his story, has ended.. Now is the story of a Hunter, looking for the Paleblood.. And a way to end the Hunt.

Pretty much everything you hunt in Bloodborne was human. Once.

He lead the hunters of the healing church and he was the first of them i think that was infected with the blood that makes all the beasts what they are.