Sparta was unable at the time to send assistance to their colony; the Heracleots were defeated, and the town so reduced that in the following year, the Boeotians occupied it to prevent it falling into Athenian hands, and dismissed the Lacedaemonian governor, on the ground of misconduct.
The text describes a situation where Sparta was unable to help its colony, leading to the town being taken over by the Boeotians who removed the local governor for misconduct.