But when all the scattered powers of that state became united in the emperor, these legacies followed the general current, and flowed in upon the common patron.

In the will of every considerable person he inherited with the children and relations, and such devises formed no inconsiderable part of his revenue: a monstrous practice, which let an absolute sovereign into all the private concerns of his subjects, and which, by giving the prince a prospect of one day sharing in all the great estates, whenever he was urged by avarice or necessity, naturally pointed out a resource by an anticipation always in his power.

This practice extended into the provinces.

A king of the Iceni[16] had devised a considerable part of his substance to the emperor.

But the Roman procurator, not satisfied with entering into his master's portion, seized upon the rest,--and pursuing his injustice to the most horrible outrages, publicly scourged Boadicea, queen to the deceased prince, and violated his daughters.