Changes

{{Map|title=HEIC Early Voyages|name=3rd HEIC Voyage|link=http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101241150585833319689.0004957a7c5ae57bdd567&ll=35.173808,60.820313&spn=149.791174,233.085937&t=p&z=2}}

{{Map|title=HEIC Factories|name=4th HEIC Voyage|link=http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101241150585833319689.000495803f7c1deac7433&ll=14.604847,34.628906&spn=108.786239,148.535156&t=p&z=3}}

== History ==

The early expeditions of the [[East India Company]] were called the Separate Voyages as separate capital was raised for each. The object of the expeditions was to establish trade with the spice islands of the East Indies.

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)].

[[Category:East India Company]]