 Deprived of his support, he turned to his uncle, Henri Arnauld, abbot of Saint-Nicolas, and he followed him to Rome where the priest was sent in 1645.Shortly after, the abbot of Saint-Nicolas was named bishop of Angers.In 1674, Louis XIV conferred on him the abbey of Chaumes-en-Brie which was to his liking because it was in the vicinity of the properties his family.