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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lancaster Captain James Lancaster] was appointed "General" of the fleet and sailed in the 'Red Dragon'. John Middleton was 'Vice-Admiral'. Other ships were the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=111 'Susan'], the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=57 'Hector'], the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=9 'Ascension'] and the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=1483 'Guest']. Thefleet captured a Portuguese vessel of the coast of Guinea and took her cargo of wine, oil and meal. After calling at Saldanha at the Cape of Good Hope, Madagascar and Nicobar, they reached Achin where they were able to secure a cargo of pepper. Lancaster established the first [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_(trading_post) factory] on at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantam_(city) Bantam] on the coast of Sumatra. An account of the voyage is given in [http://www.archive.org/stream/lettersreceivedb01east#page/n27/mode/2up Letters received by the East India Company Vol I (1602-13)].

Captain Henry Middleton, who had sailed on the first voyage with his brother of John, led the expedition in the 'Red Dragon ' again with the 'Hector', 'Ascension', and 'Susan'. Arriving at Bantam , the 'Hector ' and 'Susan ' loaded pepper and set out for home but 'Susan ' was lost on the way. The 'Red Dragon ' and 'Ascension ' proceeded to Banda Amboyna hoping to establish a factory. They were unable to do so however due to opposition from the Dutch. The 'Ascension' then went to Banda while Middleton took the 'Red Dragon' to Ternate and Tidore where trading was permitted and a cargo of pepper obtained. He called at Makian but Dutch objections prevented him from establishing a factory at Ternate though he obtained some cloves. The' Red Dragon' and 'Ascension' set sail for home but became separated en route. Middleton found the 'Hector' at Saldanha and the two ships arrived in England at the same time with 'Ascension' following later. The profit on first two voyages was repoeted as 95% on the capital. An account of the voyage is given in [http://www.archive.org/stream/lettersreceivedb01east#page/n29/mode/2up Letters received by the East India Company Vol I (1602-13)].