Lisa Chamberlain

Robert Chamberlain, an English poet and playwright active in the mid-17th century, was born into a family of some standing in Lancashire. His early career involved service to Peter Ball, the solicitor-general to Queen Henrietta Maria. Ball recognized Chamberlain's literary talents and sponsored his studies at Exeter College, Oxford, in 1637, though Chamberlain never completed a degree. While at Oxford, he was a well-regarded figure among university intellectuals and published several works during his time there.

Chamberlain's known literary output includes original sayings, a comedic play, various shorter poems, and compilations of older jests. He also provided commendatory verses for works by his contemporaries, such as Thomas Nabbes's "Spring's Glory" (1638) and Thomas Rawlins's "The Rebellion" (1640). He was mistakenly attributed as the author of Phineas Fletcher's "Sicelides, a Pastoral" (1633). Later in his career, he contributed to Leonard Blunt's "Asse upon Asse" (1661), a volume related to a dispute over "The Asses' Complaint against Balaam." Modern scholarship suggests that "Balaam's Asse Cudgeld," included in Blunt's work, may be by Chamberlain, representing his final known writings. The exact date of his death remains unknown.

Robert Chamberlain's literary endeavors spanned several genres, including the creation of original adages, a comedic play, and a collection of shorter poems. He also compiled collections of ancient jokes, indicating an interest in both original composition and the preservation or adaptation of existing humorous material. His work often appeared alongside that of his friends, as evidenced by his contributions of commendatory verses to plays and other works by contemporaries like Thomas Nabbes and Thomas Rawlins. These contributions served as endorsements and introductions to the works of his peers, highlighting his integration within the literary circles of his time. While he was a popular figure at Oxford and produced volumes during his studies, he did not pursue formal academic recognition through a degree.

Chamberlain maintained close relationships with several notable figures of his era, including the playwrights Thomas Rawlins and Thomas Nabbes, and was particularly attached to Peter Ball and his son William. These personal connections likely influenced his literary career and provided opportunities for collaboration and mutual support. A significant point of scholarly discussion involves the attribution of works within Leonard Blunt's "Asse upon Asse" (1661). This volume was part of a polemical exchange, and while Chamberlain contributed a commendatory verse, one of the pieces within the collection, "Balaam's Asse Cudgeld," is now believed by scholars to be his work. These writings are considered the last known of his literary output.