It was a time of bitterness and hatred, a war which pitched father against son, brother against brother in the bloody battle for the soul of the nation. It was winner takes all. After seven years of turmoil, even the dramatic execution of King Charles I could not bring peace, more bloodshed still lay ahead. And when Cromwell's Parliamentarian forces won the day, their attentions would turn to Ireland and what would be one of the darkest periods of the British Isles.