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The fourth expedition ended in disaster. Captain Alexander Sharpeigh commanded the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=9 'Ascension'] with Captain Richard Rowles in the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=124 'Union']. They set out on 14 March 1609 before the return of the first ship on the third voyage. On leaving Saldanha they were split up by a storm. The 'Ascension' proceeded via [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comoros Comoros] and [[Aden]] where Capt Sharpeigh was briefly detained by the governor. Thence to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mocha,_Yemen Mocha] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socotra Socotra] before making for [[Surat]]. Lacking a pilot [http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?138967 the ship went aground] on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacca_Banks Malacca Banks] in the Gulf of Khambhat. The crew got ashore and reached Surat. The Union sailed to Achin and Priaman securing a cargo of pepper. A short distance from home she ran aground on the Brittany coast off [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audierne Audierne] and was looted. An account of the voyage is given in [http://www.archive.org/stream/lettersreceivedb01east#page/n33/mode/2up Letters received by the East India Company Vol I (1602-13)].