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Actus

A Dictionary of Law · Henry Campbell Black · 1891

A Dictionary of Law

In the civil law. A species of right of way, consisting in the right of driving cattle, or a carriage, over the land to the subject of the servitude.

Inst. 2, 3, pr.

It is sometimes translated a "road," and included the kind of way termed "iter," or path. Lord Coke, who adopts the term "actus" from Bracton, defines it a foot and horse way, vulgarly called "pack and prime way;" but distinguishes it from a cart-way.

Co. Litt. 56a.

In old English law

An act of parliament; a statute. A distinction, however, was sometimes made between actus and statutum. Actus parliamenti was an act made by the lords and commons; and it became statutum, when it received the King's consent.

Barring. Obs. St. 46, note 6.