洪(hong)天(tian)錫,字君疇,泉州(zhou)晉江人。寶慶二年,(公元一二二六(liu)年)舉進士(shi)(shi)第,授(shou)廣州(zhou)司法(fa)。歷(li)拜監察御(yu)史,累(lei)(lei)疏劾奄人,上(shang)章至(zhi)六(liu)七(qi)次(ci),最后請還(huan)御(yu)史印。宋時的奄人,不敢竅弄主威,都是他的力量。累(lei)(lei)遷(qian)刑(xing)部尚書,又進華文閣直學士(shi)(shi)。尋(xun)致仕,加(jia)端(duan)明殿學士(shi)(shi)。卒,謚文毅。天(tian)賜所著,有奏議、經筵講義、通祀輯略、味言發墨、陽(yang)嚴文集(均宋史本傳)傳世。
是年立夏之日,“天(tian)(tian)(tian)雨土(tu)”。天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫借(jie)此(ci)機(ji)會疏言(yan)“陰陽君子小人之所(suo)以(yi)(yi)辨,乞屏絕私邪,休息(xi)土(tu)木,消天(tian)(tian)(tian)災(zai)。”并彈(dan)劾少(shao)監余作賓(bin)、外(wai)戚謝欒(luan)懋。當年四川中部地震(zhen),浙、閩(min)鬧大水,天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫又(you)上(shang)(shang)疏:“上(shang)(shang)下(xia)窮空,遠兵怨疾,獨(du)(du)貴戚巨(ju)閹享富貴耳。舉(ju)天(tian)(tian)(tian)下(xia)窮且怨,陛下(xia)能(neng)獨(du)(du)與數十人者(zhe)(zhe)共天(tian)(tian)(tian)下(xia)乎(hu)?”適(shi)逢蘇州百姓大論等“列(lie)訴(su)宋(song)(song)臣奪(duo)其(qi)田(tian)”,天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫立即交(jiao)有關(guan)官署查(cha)處(chu)。豈料御(yu)(yu)前提(ti)舉(ju)卻移文(wen)聲稱(cheng)“田(tian)屬御(yu)(yu)莊,不(bu)(bu)(bu)當白臺(tai)”,儀鸞司(si)亦因此(ci)發文(wen)給(gei)常平司(si),企(qi)圖把水攪渾,以(yi)(yi)達(da)包庇(bi)目的(de)(de)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫義憤填膺,上(shang)(shang)疏責問:“御(yu)(yu)史所(suo)以(yi)(yi)雪冤,常平所(suo)以(yi)(yi)均役,若中貴人得(de)以(yi)(yi)控(kong)之,則內外(wai)臺(tai)可廢,猶為國有紀(ji)綱乎(hu)?”他(ta)(ta)(ta)毫不(bu)(bu)(bu)氣餒地繼續(xu)彈(dan)劾董宋(song)(song)臣和都(dou)知盧允升,列(lie)舉(ju)他(ta)(ta)(ta)們的(de)(de)罪惡。但(dan)理(li)(li)宗極力庇(bi)護二人。他(ta)(ta)(ta)又(you)接(jie)連上(shang)(shang)六(liu)七道(dao)奏疏,都(dou)無效果,最后(hou)只好提(ti)出(chu)辭職,“請還(huan)御(yu)(yu)史印”,并沉痛(tong)地告誡(jie)理(li)(li)宗道(dao):“明君當為后(hou)人除害,不(bu)(bu)(bu)應留下(xia)后(hou)患給(gei)后(hou)人。今朝(chao)廷(ting)輕給(gei)舍臺(tai)諫,輕百司(si)庶(shu)府,而(er)北(bei)司(si)獨(du)(du)重,倉(cang)卒之際,臣實懼怕。”他(ta)(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)忠言(yan)雖沒有立即被理(li)(li)宗采納,但(dan)如《宋(song)(song)史》所(suo)說:“然終宋(song)(song)世(shi)閹人不(bu)(bu)(bu)能(neng)竊弄主威者(zhe)(zhe),皆(jie)天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫之力。”由于理(li)(li)宗昏庸,天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫憤然離開朝(chao)廷(ting),盡管改任為大理(li)(li)少(shao)卿,再遷為太常,他(ta)(ta)(ta)都(dou)不(bu)(bu)(bu)接(jie)受(shou)。
南宋(song)景定二(er)(er)年(nian)(1261年(nian)),理宗(zong)(zong)改派天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)廣東提點刑獄,他5次(ci)辭(ci)絕。翌年(nian),起知(zhi)潭州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou),也拖了很久才赴任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)一到潭州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou),尊先(xian)賢,除(chu)宿寇,逾年(nian)大(da)治。爾后(hou),升直(zhi)(zhi)寶謨閣,再遷廣東轉運(yun)判(pan)官(guan)兼(jian)湖(hu)南安撫使(shi),所到之(zhi)處,決疑獄,劾貪吏,治財賦(fu),整肅有(you)法(fa)。理宗(zong)(zong)召(zhao)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)秘書(shu)(shu)監兼(jian)侍(shi)講,天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)以(yi)(yi)(yi)耳聾堅(jian)辭(ci);又(you)加(jia)秘閣修(xiu)撰和福(fu)建轉運(yun)副使(shi),仍被他婉言(yan)(yan)謝絕。咸(xian)淳(chun)元(yuan)年(nian)(1265年(nian)),度宗(zong)(zong)即位,召(zhao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)侍(shi)御史兼(jian)侍(shi)讀,他一再辭(ci)謝,不(bu)(bu)(bu)許,只(zhi)好(hao)上路。赴任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)途(tu)中,監察(cha)御史張(zhang)桂忽然(ran)提出彈劾,結果未到任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)就(jiu)被罷(ba)免。他不(bu)(bu)(bu)以(yi)(yi)(yi)自(zi)己進(jin)退(tui)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)念,仍上疏病民五事:曰(yue)(yue)(yue)公(gong)田(tian),曰(yue)(yue)(yue)關子(zi),曰(yue)(yue)(yue)銀綱,曰(yue)(yue)(yue)鹽鈔,曰(yue)(yue)(yue)賦(fu)役。又(you)言(yan)(yan):“在廷無(wu)嚴(yan)憚之(zhi)士(shi),何(he)以(yi)(yi)(yi)寢(qin)奸謀?遇事無(wu)敢諍之(zhi)臣,何(he)以(yi)(yi)(yi)臨大(da)節?人(ren)物稀疏,精采銷軟,隱惰惜已者多(duo),忘身殉國(guo)者少(shao)。”度宗(zong)(zong)接連委任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)工部(bu)侍(shi)郎兼(jian)直(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)士(shi)院加(jia)顯文(wen)閣待制(zhi)、湖(hu)南安撫使(shi)、潭州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)知(zhi)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)、漳州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)知(zhi)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou),他都極力辭(ci)卻。咸(xian)淳(chun)二(er)(er)年(nian),度宗(zong)(zong)改任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)福(fu)建安撫使(shi),又(you)力辭(ci),不(bu)(bu)(bu)許,乃上任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)。任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)內疏陳鹽戶破家隕身之(zhi)慘(can),請(qing)求(qiu)罷(ba)免鹽稅,獲準。又(you)請(qing)罷(ba)荔枝(zhi)貢。不(bu)(bu)(bu)久,召(zhao)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)刑部(bu)尚書(shu)(shu),后(hou)進(jin)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)顯文(wen)閣直(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)士(shi)、提舉(ju)太平興國(guo)宮,御書(shu)(shu)三札,催促上道,天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)皆力辭(ci)。第二(er)(er)年(nian),進(jin)華文(wen)閣直(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)士(shi)。不(bu)(bu)(bu)久致仕(shi),加(jia)端明殿學(xue)士(shi),轉一官(guan)。病危臨終(zhong),猶親自(zi)起草(cao)遺表,規說(shuo)君相,以(yi)(yi)(yi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)下為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)重(zhong)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)言(yan)(yan)動有(you)準繩,居官(guan)耿(geng)介(jie),臨事是(shi)非侃侃,不(bu)(bu)(bu)可(ke)回(hui)折。他曾(ceng)自(zi)書(shu)(shu)刊號春聯“生平要識瓊(qiong)崖面,到此當堅(jian)鐵(tie)石心”。宋(song)人(ren)周(zhou)密說(shuo):“近世敢言(yan)(yan)之(zhi)士(shi),始終(zhong)一節,明目張(zhang)膽,言(yan)(yan)人(ren)所難(nan),惟溫陵洪公(gong)一人(ren)。”咸(xian)淳(chun)三年(nian),天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)逝世。度宗(zong)(zong)特贈(zeng)正議大(da)夫,謚文(wen)毅。
所著有《經(jing)筵講義》
《通禮輯略》
《味言發墨》
《陽巖文集》
《洪文毅奏議》等,弟天驥。