CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Financial
Highlights" for the John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Fund and John Hancock High Yield
Tax-Free Fund (the two funds comprising the John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Trust) in
the John Hancock Tax-Free Income Funds' Prospectus, and "Independent Auditors"
in the John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Fund Class A, Class B, and Class C Shares
Statement of Additional Information and to the John Hancock High Yield Tax-Free
Fund Class A, Class B, and Class C Shares Statement of Additional Information
and to the inclusion in Post-Effective Amendment Number 19 to the Registration
Statement (Form N-1A, No. 33-32246) of our reports dated October 12, 2000 on the
financial statements and financial highlights of John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Fund
and John Hancock High Yield Tax-Free Fund.
/s/ERNST & YOUNG LLP
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ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 22, 2000