This animall facultie hath this peculiar difference from the vitall and naturall faculties, that the functions of it are subiect vnto our wil, & may be intẽded remitted, or peruerted at our pleasure, otherwise thẽ in other faculties: For no man can make his pulse to beate as he list, or alter the naturall functions at his will and pleasure. But these animal functions may be abused both by our owne will, and by the violence of some disease, and by both, as _Galen_ testifieth, _lib. 2. de Symptomatum causis cap. 12_. That it may be abused by our owne will, he proueth also in another place, where he bringeth an instance of a seruant (_serui barbari_) who killed himselfe to anger his maister by holding of his breath. S. _Augustine_ saith that he knew a man that could make himselfe to sweate when he list, by his imagination only. _Cornelius Gemma_ saith, that he knew one that could weepe when he list: others that could make their bodies stiffe like an image, imitate the voyces of all kinde of creatures, raise a hickocke, and breake wind as often and in what manner they would. And S. _Augustine_ tels of one that would make a kinde of musicke that way. _Adrian Turnebus_ saw a rogue that gayned much money by shewing this feate, we do also daily see that some can counterfait madnes, some drunkennesse, some the falling sicknesse, some palsies and trembling, some can play the fooles and supply the roomes of innocents, some can make noyses & speake in their bellies or throates, as those which _Hyppocrates_ calleth _Eugastrimuthoi ventriloqui_, such as was the holy maid of Kent, and _Mildred_ of westwall, &c. And it is strange to see how young bodies will be bowed and writhed diuersly, as wee see in tumblers iuglers, and such like companions. Hereupon diuers haue counterfaited diseases as I once saw a poor fellow being arested for a smal debt coũterfaited a fit of the falling sicknes, with strange and violent motions: whereby the creditor in compassion was moued to release him. Being released he was well againe, and vnto his friendes seemed to confesse the cousonage: others haue counterfaited possessions, either vpon meere deceit or inticed therto through the conceite of some disease wherewith they haue beene troubled. But for this point I referre you to the histories of _Agnes Brigs_, _Rachel Pinder_, _Martha Brossier_, &c. _Ren. Scot_ tels of one that being blind, deafe, and dumbe, could reade any canonicall Scripture, but no Apocripha: But was discouered by inserting a leafe of Apocrapha: among the canonicall. Another faining her selfe to be possessed with a diuell, would answere to any question made in English, but vnderstood no latine. Diuers such like examples might bee procured to shew how the animall functions may be abused by our owne will. But against our willes this faculty doth suffer by consent in the suffocation of the Mother diuersly according to the varietie of offices or functions which it performeth. [Sidenote: _Hebetudo mentis._]