You have to make good alliances inside as well as outside the [Holy] Roman Empire, and these cannot be held against you, because such power was granted to members of the empire by the Peace of Münster and Osnabrück. Those alliances that I have made with foreigners must be renewed before the end of the year. However, you can stand in good alliance very well primarily with those who have no pretentions regarding your lands, also with those who are close neighbors, with the emperor as superior and regarding the lands closely adjacent to Silesia. Normally, however, diligently pay attention primarily to the empire, the Protestants, and your well-being, and do not allow the emperor anything that is contrary and would lead to the empire or Protestantism's downfall and the violation of German freedom. Follow thereby the glorious example of your predecessors, whose council in the empire is still praised today by friend and enemy, and who were considered the most congenial in the empire. If the emperor should be attacked by the crown of Sweden because of the Polish and Danish war, contrary to the clear letter of the Peace of Olivia, or otherwise unreasonably, then you have to assist reasonably loyally and you must not sit still. Instead, immediately take up arms and put yourself in a good position, and then get good conditions for yourself and your state, because it is completely certain that if you were to sit still, and think that the fire is still far from your borders: then your lands are going to be the theater [of war] on which one will play out the tragedy. Not to mention the many marches and counter-marches, which completely ruin the land, and will ultimately strike the fortresses when the land is devastated. Yes, ultimately you will be robbed of your land and people. Always maintain a good friendship with the King in Poland and the Republic, as the closest neighbors, first with the Electorate of Brandenburg, and also regarding [East] Prussia. Try to maintain the good affection of the Republic [of Poland]. Spare no costs thereby, because if you are assured of the Republic's friendship, then your newly attained sovereignty in Prussia will be more secure, and you will be able to enjoy it in greater peace. The unbearable status that I and my predecessors had vis-à-vis the crown of Poland while we were vassals, and how everything had to be offset with money, cannot be described in full, but the archive and the receipts will show something of it. Since the Almighty God showed me the great grace to let me fight for and retain sovereignty after such difficult and expensive wars, for which He is to be eternally thanked, you must now take care of such as a precious treasure of your house, because Poland, on the one side, and [East] Prussia itself, on the other, endeavor that it may return to its previous status, may God protect you from that. [ . . . ]
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