The English border was not far distant ; all of the local castles were strongly held Defending by Edward 's forces Causation ; and , perhaps most important of all , the Lordship of Galloway , the old Balliol patrimony , was adjacent to Carrick , and many of the local families were hostile to King Robert the Bruce and his cause .

However Mariota was later awarded Award the earldom of Ross in 1424 and the Lordship of the Isles would keep the title for much of the 15th century .