The Constitutional History of England by FW Maitland is in Modern Era.
In 1462 Edward IV empowers him to proceed in all cases of treason, 'summarily and plainly, without noise and show of judgment on simple inspection of fact.' A similar patent was granted to Lord Rivers in 1467. They show something very like a contempt for law— the constable is to exercise powers of almost unlimited extent, all statutes, ordinances, acts and restrictions to the contrary notwithstanding. This illegal tribunal, for such we may well call it, came to an end after the accession of the House of Tudor — the king had no need of it; but an evil precedent had been set