If the Crown were successful the suits would confiscate the entire Hancock
estate--matters were getting in a serious way. Witnesses were summoned,
but the trial was staved off from time to time.

Hancock had refused to follow Samuel Adams' lead in the controversy with
Governor Hutchinson as to the right to convene the General Court. The
report was that John Hancock was growing lukewarm and siding with the
Tories. A year had passed since the massacre had occurred, and the
agitators proposed to commemorate the day.

Colonel Hancock had appeared in many prominent parts, but never as an
orator.

"Why not show the town what you can do!" some one said.

So John Hancock was invited to deliver the oration. He did so to an
immense concourse. The address was read from the written page. It
overflowed with wisdom and patriotism; and the earnestness and eloquence
of the well-rounded periods was the talk of the town.

The knowing ones went around corners and roared with laughter, but Samuel
Adams said not a word. The charge was everywhere made by the captious and
bickering that the speech was written by another, and that, moreover, John
Hancock had not even a very firm hold on its import. It was the one speech
of his life. Anyway, it so angered General Gage that he removed Colonel
Hancock from his command of the cadets.

An order was out for Hancock's arrest, and he and Samuel Adams were in
hiding.