In the council listen diligently, note all of the councilors’ opinions well and also have a protocol diligently kept. Decide nothing important in the presence of the councilors, out of the necessity of discretion. Instead, take such to consider privately, have one or another privy councilor come to you, ponder all the opinions that were presented and resolved, and be like the bee who sucks the best nectar from the flowers. If it is a difficult matter, then pray to God that He tells you in your heart what you should do or have done, first of all for the honor of His name, for the best and prosperity of the territory, people, and subjects, and also for you and your house. Then promptly carry out the work that you have planned. So that it will go well and felicitously. Have all the letters that come in the mail or otherwise brought to you yourself. Open and read them, and then divide the work among the councilors, or have someone else do the division. When you have the councilors vote, then see to it that you start from the bottom, and not from the top, since the great authority of the senior councilors may prevent the junior ones from expressing their ideas or speaking freely, because they are often put through the wringer [durch die hechell gezogen] or interrupted by the more senior ones.
The Almighty has amply blessed the House of Brandenburg, more than other houses in the [Holy] Roman Empire, with many and impressive territories. Hence, the house has many enemies who begrudge such blessings. Sooner or later they will have some opportunity or be able to activate their sinister plans to diminish the house, and they will not refrain from removing it from all consideration. So you must always live, as much as possible, in good trust, friendship, and correspondence with all electors, princes, and estates of the empire, and give them no reason for any hostility, and maintain the good peace. And because God has blessed our house with many lands, you only have to think of their conservation, and make sure that by hungering for more lands you do not bring great envy and hostility upon yourself and thereby endanger that which you already have. However, you should in no way allow yourself to be deprived or allow anything to be taken from your lands, borders, or conventional rights. Because some conflict could therefore arise, first it should be attempted to resolve it amicably. When, despite all hopes for such an amicable settlement, nothing will work then one must strive to protect one’s legal position as best as possible. Also, when war arises between two others, attempt to resolve the conflict through your interposition, but always position yourself well, so that you have force behind you. I have always done such and through God's grace avoided much misfortune. When, however, war must be necessary, then let there be good order in your lands, and do not allow that your subjects are oppressed and violated, because your means will be derived from their means.
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