Merchant of Venice Act 3 scene 1 Please explain this line, “Report be an honest woman of her word”.

This relates to the woman who told Antonio the news of his ship being wrecked. He believes that she is an honest/reliable source of information.

Why, the rumors are all saying that Antonio has a ship of rich cargo wrecked on the narrow seas; I think they call the place the Good wins, a very dangerous, flat, and fatal place, where the dead bodies of many tall ships are buried, as they say, if my gossip reporter is an honest woman of her word.