Though I hope it will not happen, if the emperor, Spain, and the House of Austria go too far and violate the peace treaty concluded at Münster and Osnabrück, or if they would like to try to introduce new religious or worldly things in the empire that run contrary to German freedom and lead to the oppression of the ancient customs and structure, then normally you have to use the foreign crowns against them. At the same time, if Sweden or France want to go too far, then you have to hold to the emperor and the House of Austria, so that you can maintain the proper balance between them. The Italian princes handle this in such a way. When they see that one or the other is gaining and becoming great and powerful and that the one side is superior to the other, then they hold to the weaker and set themselves opposite the other. [ . . . ]
The changing of the times will provide opportunities to make alliances with others. One must always orient oneself, and aim, and do that which is useful and beneficial to one's state: alliances are good, indeed, but one's own force is still better. One can rely more surely on it [one's own force], and a lord is of no consideration if he does not have his own means and soldiers. For that is what made me considerable once I followed this principle, and I always deplore that at the beginning of my reign, to my great disadvantage, I let myself be distracted from that and against my will followed other advice.
After the diocese of Magdeburg also falls to the House of Brandenburg, after the death of the current administrator, then not only it, but rather none of the other lands should ever be separated from the electoral territories. They should neither through partition nor through whatever it may be called at any time be separated from the electorate, except what I have said in my testament out of special consideration and good intention regarding Halberstadt, and that Lauenburg and Buttauw [Bötzow?] should be granted to my youngest son, Ludwig. Of the other electoral lands, principalities, and counties, it is in no way advised to give the least bit more to your brother or brothers, should God grant more, because through the partition of the lands the power and respect of the house are reduced. I do not even mention the great expenses that the electoral dignity demand of the government, which then could not be carried out as respect demands. Thereby the respect which one now has for the House of Brandenburg would decline entirely, as one sees in such examples as the Houses of Saxony and Anhalt and others. You could benefit your brothers before others with dowries and benefices in religious foundations, which you have to grant, and the same with governorships, if you find it necessary to appoint governors with the dignity and command, because your brothers are closer to you than others. You can thereby ensure that they better maintain their princely status, and not live as a degeneration of the House of Brandenburg. Additionally, I admonish you earnestly, also entirely fatherly, to love each other brotherly, and to always live in good, proper brotherly unity and trust. So I also do not doubt that your brothers will not fail to show you all the proper respect which is due to you as the head of the house. [ . . . ]
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