Crull[2] is an important figure in the history of English Ireland during the reign of Richard II (1382–1399) for two reasons: his involvement in the antagonism between the Geraldine and Butler families at its most notorious stage,[3] and being at times a sacrificial lamb in Richard II's power struggle with the English Parliament over the stormy colonial politics that ensued.
Crull had been prebendary[4] of Swords,[5] and had been asked by the English colonial community to go to Westminster in 1385 to transact business relating to the problems caused by the falling-out between the then English Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Sir Philip Courtenay, and his appointed Chief Governor of Ireland James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond.
The three supplied small companies to the general muster of Stanley's army with Crull providing, among other things, 24 archers of his retinue.
However Richard II, in trying to win over the House of Commons at the Cambridge parliament of September 1388, promised, among other things, to assume greater governance of his Irish realm, and this led him to reappointed Stanley, Bishop Alexander and Crull to reconstitute the administration of the Duke of Ireland.
Crull served briefly to 1403[10] during the early days of Henry IV, who depicted Richard II as a tyrant to enhance the legitimacy of his own seizure of the throne.