The Political Testament of Frederick William I ("the Soldier King") (February 17, 1722)

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[ . . . ]

[Catholics must be tolerated as stipulated in international agreements—the Peace of Westphalia and the Treaty of Wehlau] but [ . . . ]

You must not tolerate Jesuits in your lands. They are devils who are capable of much evil and intrigue against you and the whole community, so you must not allow them to settle in your lands, under whatever pretext they try to do so.

[ . . . ]

As regards the French, or refugees, my Successor must confirm the privileges granted by the Elector Frederick William, but you can with a good conscience cut and economize 22,000 out of the 44,000 that I give them every year out of the exchequer, for many people are drawing pensions out of the 44,000 who do not need them at all, being very well off. For the rest, the French are very industrious people who have made the towns in our country capable of producing manufactures, for fifty years ago no fine cloths, stockings, crepe, velvet or woolen goods were manufactured here, and we had to import these from England, France, the Netherlands, now our lands export considerable quantities all over Germany.

[ . . . ]

The Jews. As to the Jews, there are, unfortunately, very many in our lands who have no letters of protection from me. Those you must chase out of the country, because the Jews are locusts in a country and ruin the Christians. I beseech you to issue no new letters of protection, even if they offer you large sums for them, because it will be a great damage to you and the ruin of your subjects. [ . . . ]

My dear successor, I beseech you for God’s sake to preserve your army well and to strengthen it more and more and not to split it up, as my father Frederick, King in Prussia, did in the last French war, but always keep your army together, then you will see how you are sought after by all Powers of the world and will be able to hold the balance in Europe, for it will depend on you, for if one can hold the balance in the world there is always some profit to be got for one’s lands, and you will be respected by your friends and dreaded by your enemies.