WIFE, a married woman, or one joined with, and under the protection of an husband. See HUSBAND.
Isle of WIGHT, a part of the county of Southampton, separated from the rest by a channel about 20 miles long and 12 broad. It seems to have been called by the Britons Uiz, the diminutive of Uiz, which signifies an island. Hence the Romans, imitating, as their custom was, the sound of the British word, styled it Vitis, Vellis, and Vella. Diodorus Siculus, coming near to the British name, calls it Itta. The Saxons, Wiht, or Wihte, and Wightland, because possessed by the Jutes, called sometimes Vita and Villi, as well as Juti; whence, in the modern Welsh, it appears to be styled Guth, which, because it signifies disjoined or divorced, some have thought a very significant appellation; but the former account, though more modern, is however more natural, and therefore seems to come nearer the truth.
It is separated from Hampshire by a small arm of the sea, called anciently the Solent, which is, in some places, 12, in others seven, in most about four miles broad, except at the strait between Sharpnor and Hurst castles, where it is not quite two. This island is, or rather was, of an oval form, and thence said to resemble an egg; and in length, from east to west, was anciently 30 miles, at present 23 at most; in breadth, from north to south, 12; in circumference, 60. The south side of the island, which is opposed to France, is naturally fortified by exceeding steep cliffs; and wherever these are wanting, forts and blockhouses have been built.
There are also large and dangerous banks of sand on the north side, called the Horse, No Man's Land, and the Brambles; on the west side a long ridge of rocks, and nearer the shore the needles; on the south Atherfield rocks, Challarme, and Done Moss; to the east, the Black Rocks, the Mixon, and the White Cliff, afford a kind of natural and effectual barrier against all invaders.
It looks as if these rocks, shoals, and sands, were remnants of the land belonging to this island when 30 miles long, and shaped like an egg, as ancient authors describe it.
A long ridge of hills runs from west to east. The country on the south side is wonderfully rich and fertile, producing vast quantities of excellent corn; some say, in one good year as much as will serve the inhabitants seven. The middle and mountainous part of the island has some wood, and abundance of fine grass,
which nourishes a vast number of sheep; and their fleece is not inferior to any in Great Britain, except those of Cotswold and Lempster. Cattle, fowl, and fish, are equally good, and, except in time of war, when the island is crowded with people, cheap. There were likewise two parks, but one of these is now converted into arable land, and a forest studded with excellent venison; to which when we add, that the climate is so mild, that myrtles grow in the open air, and so wholesome (except towards the eastern extremity, where agues are very common) that the people are generally healthy, and live frequently to a great age, we may be justified in saying, that few places can boast of being more plentiful or more pleasant.
It is admirably watered in every part by springs, brooks, or rivers. The famous road of St Helens lies on the north-east side of the island, where the sea enters so deep, as almost to cut off one part; the most eastern promontory of which is Benbridge Point, and that extremity obtains the name of Benbridge Isle. There is another large opening about the middle, on the north side, where the river Cowes falls into the sea, and forms a harbour, defended formerly by two strong castles, called the East and West Cowes; but the latter only is now standing. About four miles up the river stands Newport, the capital of the isle, in which there are at present between 3000 and 4000 inhabitants: It is a neat town, built with stone, to which vessels of a small burden come up; and being called in Latin Medena, the island is on that account divided into the Hundreds of East Meden and West Meden. About a mile from thence stands Carebrook castle upon an high rock. To the west of Newport-haven lies that of Newton, which, notwithstanding it is now inconsiderable, was heretofore also a pretty good town; and still farther to the west lies the castle and town of South Yarmouth, where the sea enters again into the land, and penetrates within a mile of the south coast. The island being here as much intersected as at the eastern extremity, as that is styled Benbridge, so this is called Freshwater Isle.