When King Olaf had been seven years (A.D. 1015-1021) in Norway the earls
Thorfin and Bruse came to him, as before related, in the summer, from
Orkney, and he became master of their land. The same summer Olaf went
to North and South More, and in autumn to Raumsdal. He left his ships
there, and came to the Uplands, and to Lesjar. Here he laid hold of
all the best men, and forced them, both at Lesjar and Dovre, either to
receive Christianity or suffer death, if they were not so lucky as to
escape. After they received Christianity, the king took their sons in
his hands as hostages for their fidelity. The king stayed several
nights at a farm in Lesjar called Boar, where he placed priests. Then he
proceeded over Orkadal and Lorodal, and came down from the Uplands at
a place called Stafabrekka. There a river runs along the valley, called
the Otta, and a beautiful hamlet, by name Loar, lies on both sides of
the river, and the king could see far down over the whole neighbourhood.
"A pity it is," said the king, "so beautiful a hamlet should be burnt."
And he proceeded down the valley with his people, and was all night on
a farm called Nes. The king took his lodging in a loft, where he slept
himself; and it stands to the present day, without anything in it
having been altered since. The king was five days there, and summoned
by message-token the people to a Thing, both for the districts of Vagar,
Lear, and Hedal; and gave out the message along with the token, that
they must either receive Christianity and give their sons as hostages,
or see their habitations burnt. They came before the king, and submitted
to his pleasure; but some fled south down the valley.