hark-ye, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

hark-ye v.

also harking

[the image is of drawing one’s target to one side and whispering a request for a loan]

to borrow money.

c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Harking Whispering on one side to borrow Money.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Hark-ye-ing. Whispering on one side to borrow money.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.