Hello, my lovely betwixtrers. It's me, Kate Lister. This is betwixt the sheeds. We are a naughty,

spicy, historical podcast. And because of all of that, I have to tell you, even though I'm sure you know, I'm absolutely sure that you all know this by now. But this is an adult podcast spoken by adults, to other adults about adulty things, an adulty way, coming around to adult subjects, news being adult too. Are we all adults? Yes, I think we are all adults. Although if any kids have snuck in, be off with you.

Go away. We don't want you around here. Right, for the rest of you. Let's crack on.

16th century Europe was a wild time for many, well, frankly, ridiculous reasons.

I mean, it was just a bonkers place to be.

And yet at one time, there were two women holding the most powerful seats in Europe.

And that is pretty remarkable when you think about it.

These two women were, of course, Elizabeth I first, Lizzie, as I like to call her, and Catherine de Medici, or Kath.

Yes, piddence, I see you.

Kathy wasn't really technically a queen, I know, we know, but boy, did she wield some serious power.

And how did these two women see each other?

Was this rivalry or respect? And how did these two women see each other? Was this rivalry or respect?

And how did the rest of Europe see them?

Well, we are going to head back to the 16th century to find out more.

We're going to head back to the 16xt Sheet, The History of Sex Scandal and Society with me, Kate Lister.

What makes the lives of Elizabeth I first and Catherine Demerici all the more fascinating is that neither of them expected to rule.

They kind of just ended up in positions of enormous power and influence.

But how do their lives really compare?

What did they want from one another?

How did they handle various political crises, i.e.

Mary Queen of Scots.

Hmm.

...