The controversy gave a boost to the author's sales.

They paint them, or at least parts of them, with urucum (reddish) plant dye or even their own blood if there are no urucum plants nearby.

Aldhelm is a hard author. His 'densa silva latinitatis' [dense forest of Latinity] is close to impenetrable, and his proverbial verbosity doubtless has led the most chalcenteric readers to wonder if there was any reward at the end for their pains.

. . . a sort of little back kitchen, where dirty work, such as washing up dishes, might be done.