Ivanhoe's England

When men were men and
            women were appendages
            of their man's importance.
When Jew was second
            to the Christian England.
When the masses were illiterate
            bow carrying poor.
When horse came before rider;
When the mace and ax were not considered
            cruel and unusual punishment.
When anything done in the name of God
           was just.
When the end justified the means.
 
Was it so different then than now?