bishop giambattista grossi (1549–1569) brought home the idea of a seminary for the diocese from the council of trent, which had decreed in its twenty-third session that every diocese should have a seminary for the education of the clergy. he consulted with the cathedral chapter and with the clergy of the city as to the means to comply, and then, on 3 january 1567, he issued a decree calling for a tax on every benefice in the diocese to raise funds. he died two years later, however, without having advanced the plan any farther. his successor, bishop eustachio locatelli, held another conference, in which it was decided to appoint a deputy to engage in planning and fund raising, but he too died before advancing the plan significantly. in the synod of 1581, bishop benedetto manzoli (1578–1585) expressed his resolution to create the seminary immediately, but he too died before accomplishing anything. bishop claudio rangone, too, had good intentions, which he expressed in his synod of 1595, but his work as a diplomat for pope clement viii took him away from the diocese. it was not until 21 december 1614 that he instituted the college of seminarians in the cathedral. rooms were provided for the five students through the generosity of the canons, who made some rooms belonging to them available, for a period of three years. thereafter, the seminary was without a home, and dependent upon the creation of a benefice by the bishop to fund them. when bishop rangone died, the seminary closed.