Ball, apparently impressed with Chamberlain's literary promise, sent him to study at Exeter College in 1637, when he was thirty years old.
At Oxford Chamberlain was popular with the university wits, and issued several volumes while in residence.
[1] Chamberlain's literary work consists of original adages, a comedy, some short poems, and collections of ancient jokes.
He contributed commendatory verses to: Nabbes's Spring's Glory, 1638; Rawlins's tragedy The Rebellion, 1640; John Tatham's Fancies Theatre, 1640.
He was erroneously credited by Anthony Wood and others with the authorship of Sicelides, a Pastoral, 1633. by Phineas Fletcher.