<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 08/31/97
000 C000000 0000857769
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND TRUST
001 B000000 811-5968
001 C000000 6173751702
002 A000000 101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02199
002 D020000 7603
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 2
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK ADVISERS, INC.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-8124
008 D01AA01 BOSTON
008 D02AA01 MA
008 D03AA01 02199
008 D04AA01 7603
011 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-43582
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02199
011 C04AA01 7603
012 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK SIGNATURE SERVICES, INC.
<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 B00AA01 84-18851
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02199
012 C04AA01 7603
013 A00AA01 ERNST & YOUNG LLP
013 B01AA01 BOSTON
013 B02AA01 MA
013 B03AA01 02116
014 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
014 B00AA01 8-13995
014 A00AA02 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
014 B00AA02 8-43582
014 A00AA03 JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
014 B00AA03 8-15661
014 A00AA04 FREEDOM DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
014 B00AA04 8-37458
015 A00AA01 INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BOSTON
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02110
015 E01AA01 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 60
019 C00AA00 JOHNHANCOC
020 A000001 BEAR STEARNS & CO
020 B000001 13-2975144
020 C000001 799
020 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH
020 B000002 13-5674085
020 C000002 58
020 A000003 GOLDMAN SACHS
020 B000003 13-5108880
020 C000003 10
020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 867
022 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS
022 B000001 13-5108880
022 C000001 118360
022 D000001 134060
022 A000002 SMITH BARNEY
022 B000002 13-1912900
022 C000002 62089
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 D000002 85127
022 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
022 B000003 13-5674085
022 C000003 35415
022 D000003 71663
022 A000004 FIRST ALBANY CORP
022 B000004 14-1391446
022 C000004 27231
022 D000004 45887
022 A000005 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000005 13-2726611
022 C000005 46510
022 D000005 25486
022 A000006 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000006 22-2347336
022 C000006 31676
022 D000006 35341
022 A000007 PAINE WEBBER
022 B000007 13-2638166
022 C000007 13414
022 D000007 8312
022 A000008 MORGAN STANLEY
022 B000008 13-2655998
022 C000008 12243
022 D000008 4560
022 A000009 J.P. MORGAN
022 B000009 13-3224016
022 C000009 5749
022 D000009 3997
022 A000010 MOOS E.A. & CO
022 C000010 2880
022 D000010 6441
023 C000000 411098
023 D000000 479018
024 00AA00 N
025 D00AA01 0
025 D00AA02 0
025 D00AA03 0
025 D00AA04 0
025 D00AA05 0
025 D00AA06 0
025 D00AA07 0
025 D00AA08 0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 N
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 4
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
037 00AA00 N
038 00AA00 0
039 00AA00 Y
040 00AA00 Y
041 00AA00 Y
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 N
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 Y
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 1000
062 A00AA00 Y
062 B00AA00 0.0
062 C00AA00 0.0
062 D00AA00 0.0
062 E00AA00 0.0
062 F00AA00 0.0
062 G00AA00 0.0
062 H00AA00 0.0
062 I00AA00 0.0
062 J00AA00 0.0
062 K00AA00 0.0
062 L00AA00 0.0
062 M00AA00 0.0
062 N00AA00 0.0
062 O00AA00 100.0
062 P00AA00 0.0
062 Q00AA00 0.0
062 R00AA00 0.0
066 A00AA00 N
067 00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069 00AA00 N
077 A000000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 5
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 Y
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 GULF INSURANCE COMPANY
080 B00AA00 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C00AA00 40000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 78
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
028 A010100 60284
028 A020100 2199
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 66635
028 B010100 95879
028 B020100 2802
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 91676
028 C010100 53597
028 C020100 2339
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 66917
028 D010100 28984
028 D020100 2307
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 44866
028 E010100 14208
028 E020100 2574
028 E030100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
028 E040100 18827
028 F010100 9890
028 F020100 2236
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 21740
028 G010100 262842
028 G020100 14457
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 310661
028 H000100 19452
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 643
030 B000100 4.50
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 65
031 B000100 0
032 000100 170
033 000100 408
034 000100 Y
035 000100 425
036 A000100 Y
036 B000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 100
042 D000100 0
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 2512
044 000100 11226
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.550
048 A010100 0
048 A020100 0.000
048 B010100 0
048 B020100 0.000
048 C010100 0
048 C020100 0.000
048 D010100 0
048 D020100 0.000
048 E010100 0
048 E020100 0.000
048 F010100 0
048 F020100 0.000
048 G010100 0
048 G020100 0.000
048 H010100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 7
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 0
048 K020100 0.000
049 000100 N
050 000100 N
051 000100 N
052 000100 N
053 A000100 Y
053 B000100 Y
053 C000100 N
055 A000100 Y
055 B000100 N
056 000100 Y
057 000100 N
063 A000100 0
063 B000100 20.5
064 A000100 N
064 B000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 Y
070 C020100 Y
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 Y
070 E020100 Y
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 Y
070 G020100 Y
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 Y
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 N
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 Y
070 O010100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 Y
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 357618
071 B000100 419389
071 C000100 780200
071 D000100 46
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 49758
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 4111
072 G000100 143
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 950
072 J000100 223
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 45
072 M000100 69
072 N000100 205
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 17
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 45
072 S000100 33
072 T000100 2512
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 22
072 X000100 8375
072 Y000100 459
072 Z000100 41842
072AA000100 0
072BB000100 2378
072CC010100 26196
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 33145
072DD020100 8723
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.5859
073 A020100 0.5073
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 0
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 D000100 809344
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 21
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 13791
074 M000100 96
074 N000100 823252
074 O000100 25367
074 P000100 575
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 2504
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 794806
074 U010100 55531
074 U020100 19253
074 V010100 10.63
074 V020100 10.63
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 31696
074 Y000100 25000
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 769938
076 000100 0.00
028 A010200 2176
028 A020200 264
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 4612
028 B010200 3578
028 B020200 297
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 3964
028 C010200 2216
028 C020200 242
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 3358
028 D010200 4661
028 D020200 261
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 2416
028 E010200 3679
028 E020200 299
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 3735
028 F010200 2720
<PAGE> PAGE 10
028 F020200 247
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 5041
028 G010200 19030
028 G020200 1610
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 23126
028 H000200 11719
029 000200 Y
030 A000200 216
030 B000200 4.50
030 C000200 0.00
031 A000200 27
031 B000200 0
032 000200 174
033 000200 15
034 000200 Y
035 000200 459
036 A000200 Y
036 B000200 0
042 A000200 0
042 B000200 0
042 C000200 100
042 D000200 0
042 E000200 0
042 F000200 0
042 G000200 0
042 H000200 0
043 000200 1511
044 000200 7360
045 000200 Y
046 000200 N
047 000200 Y
048 000200 0.000
048 A010200 75000
048 A020200 0.625
048 B010200 75000
048 B020200 0.563
048 C010200 0
048 C020200 0.000
048 D010200 0
048 D020200 0.000
048 E010200 0
048 E020200 0.000
048 F010200 0
048 F020200 0.000
048 G010200 0
048 G020200 0.000
048 H010200 0
048 H020200 0.000
048 I010200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 11
048 I020200 0.000
048 J010200 0
048 J020200 0.000
048 K010200 150000
048 K020200 0.500
049 000200 N
050 000200 N
051 000200 N
052 000200 N
053 A000200 N
055 A000200 N
055 B000200 N
056 000200 Y
057 000200 N
063 A000200 0
063 B000200 7.4
064 A000200 N
064 B000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 Y
070 B010200 N
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 Y
070 C020200 Y
070 D010200 N
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 Y
070 E020200 Y
070 F010200 N
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 Y
070 G020200 Y
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 Y
070 K010200 Y
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 N
070 L020200 N
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 Y
070 N020200 Y
070 O010200 N
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 Y
070 Q010200 N
<PAGE> PAGE 12
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 85565
071 B000200 89916
071 C000200 169216
071 D000200 51
072 A000200 11
072 B000200 11089
072 C000200 0
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 917
072 G000200 25
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 124
072 J000200 60
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 10
072 M000200 14
072 N000200 50
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 35
072 S000200 4
072 T000200 1400
072 U000200 0
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 4
072 X000200 2643
072 Y000200 0
072 Z000200 8446
072AA000200 0
072BB000200 3132
072CC010200 5759
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 1561
072DD020200 6932
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.5132
073 A020200 0.4512
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 0
074 B000200 0
074 C000200 0
074 D000200 169092
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 0
074 G000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 13
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 102
074 K000200 0
074 L000200 3275
074 M000200 72
074 N000200 172541
074 O000200 0
074 P000200 136
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 821
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 171584
074 U010200 3447
074 U020200 14920
074 V010200 9.34
074 V020200 9.34
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 3674
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 171703
076 000200 0.00
SIGNATURE SUSAN S. NEWTON
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND FUND, CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 742,512,417
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 809,344,157
<RECEIVABLES> 13,811,749
<ASSETS-OTHER> 95,649
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 823,251,555
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 25,367,199
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,078,212
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 28,445,331
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 744,787,590
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 55,530,901
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 54,614,449
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (169,244)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (16,765,472)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 66,953,350
<NET-ASSETS> 794,806,224
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 49,758,278
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 7,915,881
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 41,842,397
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (2,378,086)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 26,195,799
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 65,660,110
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 33,144,713
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 48,958,539
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 50,443,895
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2,401,808
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 152,765,764
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 70,842
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (14,252,207)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,110,920
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,018
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,375,456
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 589,841,895
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.27
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.59
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.36
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.59)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.85
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND FUND, CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 742,512,417
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 809,344,157
<RECEIVABLES> 13,811,749
<ASSETS-OTHER> 95,649
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 823,251,555
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 25,367,199
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,078,212
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 28,445,331
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 744,787,590
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 19,252,949
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,903,470
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (169,244)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (16,765,472)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 66,953,350
<NET-ASSETS> 794,806,224
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 49,758,278
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 7,915,881
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 41,842,397
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (2,378,086)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 26,195,799
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 65,660,110
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 8,723,112
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 15,762,163
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 4,854,334
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 441,650
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 152,765,764
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 70,842
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (14,252,207)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,110,920
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,018
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,375,456
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 180,095,668
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.27
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.36
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.51)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.60
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND, CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 159,024,417
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 169,092,419
<RECEIVABLES> 3,377,071
<ASSETS-OTHER> 71,665
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 172,541,155
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 956,681
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 956,681
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 172,342,082
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,446,670
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,624,070
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (38,546)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (10,773,778)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 10,054,716
<NET-ASSETS> 171,584,474
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 11,089,056
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,642,787
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 8,446,269
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,131,827)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5,758,782
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 11,073,224
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1,561,117
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,494,424
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 750,908
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 79,083
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,413,974)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 16
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (7,599,757)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,001,880
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,642,787
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 28,008,065
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.20
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.51)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.06
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 022
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND, CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 159,024,417
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 169,092,419
<RECEIVABLES> 3,377,071
<ASSETS-OTHER> 71,665
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 172,541,155
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 956,681
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 956,681
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 172,342,082
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14,919,959
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,173,859
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (38,546)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (10,773,778)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 10,054,716
<NET-ASSETS> 171,584,474
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 11,089,056
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,642,787
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 8,446,269
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,131,827)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5,758,782
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 11,073,224
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 6,932,075
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,446,597
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3,952,696
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 252,199
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,413,974)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 16
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (7,599,757)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,001,880
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,642,787
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 143,694,876
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.20
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.45
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.45)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.81
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>