On his elevation, his first act was to restore order in the Zeelandic part of the diocese, which belonged to the County of Flanders.
The heretical preacher Tanchelm had tried to get the area transferred to the bishopric of Terwaan, which was governed by a like-minded bishop.
This was shown by his involvement in the founding of St. Laurence's Abbey near Oostbroek at De Bilt, which was the first monastery in the diocese to join the Cluniac movement.
They soon reconciled, but Henry V died in 1125 in Utrecht, after which his opponent Lothair III rose to the throne.
After the setback at the Imperial Diet, Godbald retreated to the monastery of Oostbroek, where he died and was buried in 1127.