house > religious house; convent

2 Renowned throughout the world for sacred lore,

lore > teaching, doctrine

3 And pure unspotted life: so well, they say, 4 It governed was, and guided evermore, 5 Through wisdom of a matron grave and hoar;

hoar > {Venerable; grey-haired with age}

6 Whose only joy was to relieve the needs 7 Of wretched souls, and help the helpless poor: 8 All night she spent in bidding of her beads,

bidding of her beads > saying her rosary, saying her prayers

9 And all the day in doing good and godly deeds.

110.4

Dame C{ae}lia men did her call, as thought
2 From heauen to come, or thither to arise,
The mother of three daughters, well vpbrought
4 In goodly thewes, and godly exercise:
The eldest two most sober, chast, and wise,
6 Fidelia and Speranza virgins were,
Though spousd, yet wanting wedlocks solemnize;
8 But faire Charissa to a louely fere
Was lincked, and by him had many pledges dere.