attempts at agreement would have to be abandoned. But both parties
were sincerely anxious for peace, and at last a remarkably skilful
compromise was drawn up at Venice.

Frederick had objected strongly to renouncing the rights of the empire
regarding the estates of Matilda; he was to be allowed to draw the
revenues of those estates for fifteen years to come, and the question
was eventually to be settled by commissioners. The form of the peace
with the Lombards was a still more difficult matter, but the Pope made
a wise suggestion which was adopted. A truce of six years was
declared, at the end of which time it was hoped that a basis would
have been found for a readjustment of the relations between the
Emperor and the league. With Sicily, too, hostilities were to cease
for a term of fifteen years.

It will be seen that all the great questions at issue, save the
recognitions of Alexander as pope, were thus relegated to a future
time; to a time when the persons concerned would no longer be swayed
by passion, and when the din of war would be forgotten.

During the negotiations the Pope had remained for the most part in
Venice, while Frederick had not been allowed to enter the city, but
had remained in the neighborhood in order that the envoys might pass
more quickly to and fro. The terms of the treaty were finally assented
to by the Emperor at Chioggia, July 21, 1177. Alexander now prepared
to carry out his cherished project of holding a mighty peace congress
at Venice; and there, at the news of the approaching reconciliation,
nobles and bishops and their retinues came together from all parts of
Europe.