<P> Early in 1608 Alexander Sharpeigh was appointed captain of the company's Ascension, and general or commander of the fourth voyage . Thereafter two ships, Ascension and Union (captained by Richard Rowles) sailed from Woolwich on 14 March 1607--08 . This expedition would be lost . </P> <Table> East India Company Initial expeditions <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Vessels </Th> <Th> Total Invested £ </Th> <Th> Bullion sent £ </Th> <Th> Goods sent £ </Th> <Th> Ships & Provisions £ </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1603 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 60,450 </Td> <Td> 11,160 </Td> <Td> 1,142 </Td> <Td> 48,140 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1606 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 58,500 </Td> <Td> 17,600 </Td> <Td> 7,280 </Td> <Td> 28,620 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1607 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 38,000 </Td> <Td> 15,000 </Td> <Td> 3,400 </Td> <Td> 14,600 </Td> <Td> Vessels lost </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1608 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 13,700 </Td> <Td> 6,000 </Td> <Td> 1,700 </Td> <Td> 6,000 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1609 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 82,000 </Td> <Td> 28,500 </Td> <Td> 21,300 </Td> <Td> 32,000 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1610 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 71,581 </Td> <Td> 19,200 </Td> <Td> 10,081 </Td> <Td> 42,500 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1611 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 76,355 </Td> <Td> 17,675 </Td> <Td> 10,000 </Td> <Td> 48,700 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1612 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7,200 </Td> <Td> 1,250 </Td> <Td> 650 </Td> <Td> 5,300 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1613 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 272,544 </Td> <Td> 18,810 </Td> <Td> 12,446 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1614 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 13,942 </Td> <Td> 23,000 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1615 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 26,660 </Td> <Td> 26,065 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1616 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 52,087 </Td> <Td> 16,506 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Vessels </Th> <Th> Total Invested £ </Th> <Th> Bullion sent £ </Th> <Th> Goods sent £ </Th> <Th> Ships & Provisions £ </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1603 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 60,450 </Td> <Td> 11,160 </Td> <Td> 1,142 </Td> <Td> 48,140 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr>

Why were chartered companies important to british imperialism in india