In 1679 Sieur de Bachelier mentions in his description of the palace that “a glass-covered balcony joins all the rooms of this side of the building” [Old Theatre Street], and adds that “Today’s Grand Master [Nicholas Cottoner] willingly strolls there [through the balcony] without being seen, and discovers from his walk all that is happening in the two piazzas in front and at the side of his palace.