洪天錫,字君疇,泉(quan)州晉(jin)江人。寶慶二(er)年(nian),(公(gong)元(yuan)一二(er)二(er)六年(nian))舉(ju)進(jin)士第(di),授廣州司法。歷(li)拜監察御史,累(lei)疏劾奄人,上章至六七次,最后請(qing)還御史印。宋時的(de)奄人,不敢(gan)竅弄主威,都是他的(de)力量。累(lei)遷刑部尚書,又(you)進(jin)華文(wen)閣直學(xue)士。尋致仕(shi),加端(duan)明殿學(xue)士。卒,謚文(wen)毅(yi)。天賜(si)所著(zhu),有奏(zou)議(yi)、經筵(yan)講義、通祀(si)輯(ji)略、味言發墨、陽嚴(yan)文(wen)集(ji)(均宋史本傳(chuan))傳(chuan)世。
是年立(li)夏之(zhi)(zhi)日,“天(tian)(tian)(tian)雨(yu)土(tu)”。天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)借(jie)此(ci)機會疏言“陰陽君子(zi)小人(ren)(ren)(ren)之(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)以辨(bian),乞屏(ping)絕私邪,休息土(tu)木(mu),消天(tian)(tian)(tian)災。”并彈劾少(shao)監余作賓、外戚謝(xie)欒懋。當(dang)年四川中部地震,浙、閩(min)鬧大(da)水,天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)又上(shang)疏:“上(shang)下(xia)窮空,遠兵怨疾,獨(du)(du)貴戚巨閹享富貴耳。舉(ju)(ju)天(tian)(tian)(tian)下(xia)窮且怨,陛下(xia)能獨(du)(du)與(yu)數十人(ren)(ren)(ren)者(zhe)(zhe)共天(tian)(tian)(tian)下(xia)乎?”適逢蘇州百姓大(da)論等“列訴宋(song)(song)(song)臣(chen)奪其田”,天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)立(li)即交有關官署查處(chu)。豈(qi)料御(yu)前提舉(ju)(ju)卻移(yi)文(wen)(wen)聲稱“田屬御(yu)莊,不(bu)(bu)當(dang)白臺”,儀鸞司(si)(si)(si)亦(yi)因(yin)此(ci)發(fa)文(wen)(wen)給常平司(si)(si)(si),企圖把水攪渾(hun),以達包庇目的(de)(de)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)義憤(fen)填膺,上(shang)疏責問:“御(yu)史所(suo)以雪冤,常平所(suo)以均(jun)役,若中貴人(ren)(ren)(ren)得以控之(zhi)(zhi),則(ze)內外臺可廢,猶為(wei)國有紀(ji)綱(gang)乎?”他毫不(bu)(bu)氣餒地繼續彈劾董宋(song)(song)(song)臣(chen)和(he)都(dou)知盧允升,列舉(ju)(ju)他們的(de)(de)罪惡。但理(li)宗(zong)極(ji)力(li)庇護二人(ren)(ren)(ren)。他又接連上(shang)六七道奏疏,都(dou)無效果,最后(hou)只(zhi)好提出(chu)辭職(zhi),“請還(huan)御(yu)史印”,并沉痛(tong)地告(gao)誡理(li)宗(zong)道:“明君當(dang)為(wei)后(hou)人(ren)(ren)(ren)除害,不(bu)(bu)應留下(xia)后(hou)患給后(hou)人(ren)(ren)(ren)。今朝廷(ting)輕給舍(she)臺諫,輕百司(si)(si)(si)庶府,而北司(si)(si)(si)獨(du)(du)重,倉卒(zu)之(zhi)(zhi)際,臣(chen)實懼(ju)怕。”他的(de)(de)忠言雖沒有立(li)即被理(li)宗(zong)采納,但如《宋(song)(song)(song)史》所(suo)說:“然終宋(song)(song)(song)世閹人(ren)(ren)(ren)不(bu)(bu)能竊(qie)弄主威者(zhe)(zhe),皆天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)之(zhi)(zhi)力(li)。”由(you)于理(li)宗(zong)昏庸,天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)憤(fen)然離開朝廷(ting),盡管改(gai)任為(wei)大(da)理(li)少(shao)卿,再(zai)遷為(wei)太常,他都(dou)不(bu)(bu)接受。
南(nan)宋(song)景定(ding)二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(1261年(nian)(nian)),理宗(zong)改派天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)為(wei)廣東提(ti)(ti)點刑獄(yu)(yu),他(ta)(ta)(ta)5次辭絕(jue)。翌年(nian)(nian),起知潭州(zhou)(zhou),也(ye)拖了很久才赴任(ren)(ren)(ren)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)一(yi)到潭州(zhou)(zhou),尊先賢,除宿寇(kou),逾年(nian)(nian)大(da)治(zhi)。爾后,升直寶謨(mo)閣(ge),再(zai)(zai)遷(qian)廣東轉(zhuan)(zhuan)運判官(guan)兼(jian)(jian)湖(hu)南(nan)安撫(fu)使(shi),所到之處(chu),決(jue)疑(yi)獄(yu)(yu),劾(he)貪吏,治(zhi)財(cai)賦(fu),整(zheng)肅(su)有法。理宗(zong)召為(wei)秘書(shu)監(jian)兼(jian)(jian)侍講,天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)以(yi)耳(er)聾(long)堅辭;又(you)加秘閣(ge)修撰(zhuan)和福建轉(zhuan)(zhuan)運副使(shi),仍(reng)(reng)被他(ta)(ta)(ta)婉言(yan)謝絕(jue)。咸淳元年(nian)(nian)(1265年(nian)(nian)),度(du)宗(zong)即位,召天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)為(wei)侍御(yu)史(shi)兼(jian)(jian)侍讀(du),他(ta)(ta)(ta)一(yi)再(zai)(zai)辭謝,不(bu)(bu)許,只好上(shang)路(lu)。赴任(ren)(ren)(ren)途(tu)中,監(jian)察御(yu)史(shi)張桂忽然提(ti)(ti)出彈劾(he),結果(guo)未到任(ren)(ren)(ren)就被罷(ba)免。他(ta)(ta)(ta)不(bu)(bu)以(yi)自(zi)己進退為(wei)念,仍(reng)(reng)上(shang)疏(shu)病(bing)民五事(shi):曰(yue)公田,曰(yue)關子(zi),曰(yue)銀綱,曰(yue)鹽鈔,曰(yue)賦(fu)役。又(you)言(yan):“在廷無嚴憚之士(shi)(shi),何以(yi)寢奸謀(mou)?遇(yu)事(shi)無敢諍之臣,何以(yi)臨(lin)(lin)大(da)節?人(ren)物稀(xi)疏(shu),精采銷軟(ruan),隱惰(duo)惜已者多,忘(wang)身殉國(guo)者少。”度(du)宗(zong)接連委任(ren)(ren)(ren)天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)為(wei)工部侍郎兼(jian)(jian)直學(xue)士(shi)(shi)院加顯文閣(ge)待制(zhi)、湖(hu)南(nan)安撫(fu)使(shi)、潭州(zhou)(zhou)知州(zhou)(zhou)、漳州(zhou)(zhou)知州(zhou)(zhou),他(ta)(ta)(ta)都極力(li)辭卻。咸淳二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian),度(du)宗(zong)改任(ren)(ren)(ren)天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)為(wei)福建安撫(fu)使(shi),又(you)力(li)辭,不(bu)(bu)許,乃上(shang)任(ren)(ren)(ren)。任(ren)(ren)(ren)內(nei)疏(shu)陳鹽戶破家(jia)隕身之慘,請求罷(ba)免鹽稅(shui),獲準。又(you)請罷(ba)荔枝(zhi)貢。不(bu)(bu)久,召為(wei)刑部尚(shang)書(shu),后進為(wei)顯文閣(ge)直學(xue)士(shi)(shi)、提(ti)(ti)舉太平興國(guo)宮,御(yu)書(shu)三(san)札,催促上(shang)道,天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)皆力(li)辭。第二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian),進華文閣(ge)直學(xue)士(shi)(shi)。不(bu)(bu)久致仕(shi),加端明殿學(xue)士(shi)(shi),轉(zhuan)(zhuan)一(yi)官(guan)。病(bing)危(wei)臨(lin)(lin)終(zhong),猶(you)親自(zi)起草遺表,規(gui)說君(jun)相(xiang),以(yi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)下為(wei)重(zhong)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)言(yan)動有準繩,居官(guan)耿介,臨(lin)(lin)事(shi)是(shi)非侃(kan)侃(kan),不(bu)(bu)可回折。他(ta)(ta)(ta)曾自(zi)書(shu)刊(kan)號春聯“生平要識瓊崖(ya)面,到此當堅鐵石心”。宋(song)人(ren)周密說:“近世(shi)敢言(yan)之士(shi)(shi),始終(zhong)一(yi)節,明目(mu)張膽(dan),言(yan)人(ren)所難,惟溫陵(ling)洪公一(yi)人(ren)。”咸淳三(san)年(nian)(nian),天(tian)(tian)(tian)錫(xi)(xi)逝世(shi)。度(du)宗(zong)特贈(zeng)正議大(da)夫,謚文毅。
所著(zhu)有《經筵講義》
《通禮輯略》
《味言發墨》
《陽巖文集》
《洪(hong)文毅奏議》等,弟天(tian)驥。