πνεῦμα is taken in Luke 24. chapter, for a spirite or vaine imagination. Howbeit most commonly some other word is ioyned vnto it, if it bee put for an euill spirite: as πνεύματα πλανά πονηρα. The Gentiles (as S. Augustine and other Fathers doo testifie) supposed that the soules of men became Dæmones, that is, good or euil angels: which if they had done well, then were they called Lares, that is priuate gods: but if they haue done euill, then were they named Lemures, or Larue, bugs and Elues. But if it were doubted whether they had liued well or ill, then were they called Manes. Apuleius and other old writers affirme, that Genij and Lares were all one.
Lares.
Præstites.
It was supposed (as Festus witnesseth) that Lares, were the soules of men, or else infernall gods. Lares were called Præstites, because they made all things safe with their eies: that is, they saued and preserued all things.
Hostilij.
And Authors affirme, they were called Hostilij, for that they were supposed to driue away enemies. Neither were they thought to beare rule only in priuate houses, & in crosse méeting waies, but also to defend Cities. They were likewise worshipped priuately in houses, and openly in the high wayes. As touching those that were called Lares, you may read more in Anthonius Constantius, of Fauentia his Commentaries, and in Ouid.lib.5.Fastorum.
Genius.
Genius (say the Grammarians) is the naturall god of euery place, of euery thing, or of euery man when we are borne, as it is written, we haue two Genij, whereof the one encourageth vs to doo well, the other to doo euill. Genius (saith Censorinus) is a god in whose gouernance euery man doth liue, so soone as he is borne: either because hée taketh care for our begetting, or that he is engendred with vs, or else that he taketh charge and defence of vs when we are begotten. Sure it is, he is called Genius, à gignendo, that is, of begetting.
Penates
Penates likewise are domesticall gods. Macrobius affirmeth, that they are gods by whom we onely breathe, by whom we enioy this body, and by whom we possesse the reason of our mindes. Nonius saith, Lemures are spirites walking by night, and terrors rising of pictures of mē & beasts. Other say, that Lemures are euil and hurtfull shapes which appeare in the night, yea and that they be the soules of those that make men black and blew, called after that name.