洪天錫(xi),字(zi)君疇(chou),泉州晉江人。寶(bao)慶二年,(公元(yuan)一(yi)二二六(liu)年)舉進(jin)士(shi)第,授廣州司法。歷(li)拜監(jian)察御(yu)史,累(lei)疏(shu)劾奄(yan)人,上章至六(liu)七次,最(zui)后(hou)請(qing)還御(yu)史印。宋時(shi)的奄(yan)人,不敢竅弄主威,都是他的力量(liang)。累(lei)遷刑部尚(shang)書,又進(jin)華文(wen)(wen)閣直學士(shi)。尋(xun)致仕(shi),加端明殿(dian)學士(shi)。卒,謚文(wen)(wen)毅。天賜所著,有奏議、經(jing)筵講(jiang)義、通祀輯(ji)略、味言發(fa)墨(mo)、陽嚴文(wen)(wen)集(均(jun)宋史本傳(chuan))傳(chuan)世。
是(shi)年立(li)夏(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)日,“天雨(yu)土(tu)”。天錫(xi)借(jie)此(ci)機會疏(shu)言“陰陽君(jun)(jun)子(zi)小人(ren)之(zhi)(zhi)所以(yi)(yi)(yi)辨,乞屏絕私(si)邪,休息土(tu)木,消天災。”并彈劾(he)少監余作賓、外(wai)戚謝欒懋。當年四川中部地震,浙、閩鬧大(da)水,天錫(xi)又上疏(shu):“上下窮(qiong)空,遠兵怨疾(ji),獨貴戚巨閹享(xiang)富貴耳(er)。舉(ju)天下窮(qiong)且怨,陛(bi)下能獨與數十人(ren)者(zhe)共天下乎?”適逢蘇(su)州百(bai)姓大(da)論等“列訴宋(song)臣(chen)奪其田”,天錫(xi)立(li)即交有關官署查處。豈(qi)料御前提(ti)舉(ju)卻移文聲稱(cheng)“田屬御莊,不當白臺(tai)”,儀(yi)鸞司(si)亦(yi)因此(ci)發文給常平司(si),企(qi)圖把水攪渾,以(yi)(yi)(yi)達包(bao)庇目的。天錫(xi)義(yi)憤填(tian)膺,上疏(shu)責問:“御史(shi)所以(yi)(yi)(yi)雪(xue)冤,常平所以(yi)(yi)(yi)均役,若(ruo)中貴人(ren)得(de)以(yi)(yi)(yi)控之(zhi)(zhi),則內外(wai)臺(tai)可廢,猶(you)為國有紀綱乎?”他毫不氣餒地繼續(xu)彈劾(he)董宋(song)臣(chen)和都知盧允升,列舉(ju)他們的罪(zui)惡。但(dan)理(li)宗(zong)極力庇護二人(ren)。他又接連上六七道奏疏(shu),都無效(xiao)果,最后只好提(ti)出辭職,“請還御史(shi)印”,并沉痛地告誡理(li)宗(zong)道:“明君(jun)(jun)當為后人(ren)除害,不應(ying)留(liu)下后患給后人(ren)。今(jin)朝廷輕給舍臺(tai)諫(jian),輕百(bai)司(si)庶府,而北司(si)獨重,倉卒之(zhi)(zhi)際,臣(chen)實(shi)懼怕(pa)。”他的忠(zhong)言雖沒有立(li)即被理(li)宗(zong)采納,但(dan)如《宋(song)史(shi)》所說:“然終宋(song)世(shi)閹人(ren)不能竊(qie)弄主(zhu)威者(zhe),皆天錫(xi)之(zhi)(zhi)力。”由于理(li)宗(zong)昏(hun)庸(yong),天錫(xi)憤然離開朝廷,盡管(guan)改任為大(da)理(li)少卿,再(zai)遷為太常,他都不接受。
南宋景定二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1261年(nian)(nian)(nian)),理宗(zong)(zong)(zong)改派天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)為(wei)(wei)廣(guang)東(dong)提(ti)(ti)點(dian)刑獄,他(ta)5次辭絕(jue)。翌年(nian)(nian)(nian),起知潭州(zhou)(zhou),也拖(tuo)了很久才赴任(ren)。天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)一到潭州(zhou)(zhou),尊先賢(xian),除宿寇,逾年(nian)(nian)(nian)大(da)(da)治。爾后,升直(zhi)寶謨閣(ge),再遷廣(guang)東(dong)轉(zhuan)運判(pan)官兼湖(hu)南安(an)撫(fu)(fu)使(shi),所到之處,決(jue)疑(yi)獄,劾(he)貪(tan)吏(li),治財賦,整(zheng)肅有(you)法。理宗(zong)(zong)(zong)召為(wei)(wei)秘書監兼侍(shi)講,天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)以耳聾堅(jian)辭;又加(jia)秘閣(ge)修撰和福(fu)建(jian)轉(zhuan)運副使(shi),仍(reng)被他(ta)婉(wan)言(yan)(yan)謝絕(jue)。咸(xian)淳(chun)(chun)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1265年(nian)(nian)(nian)),度宗(zong)(zong)(zong)即位,召天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)為(wei)(wei)侍(shi)御史(shi)兼侍(shi)讀,他(ta)一再辭謝,不(bu)許,只好上路。赴任(ren)途中,監察御史(shi)張桂忽然提(ti)(ti)出(chu)彈劾(he),結果未到任(ren)就被罷(ba)(ba)免。他(ta)不(bu)以自(zi)己進退為(wei)(wei)念,仍(reng)上疏病民五(wu)事:曰(yue)(yue)公(gong)田,曰(yue)(yue)關(guan)子,曰(yue)(yue)銀綱,曰(yue)(yue)鹽(yan)鈔(chao),曰(yue)(yue)賦役。又言(yan)(yan):“在(zai)廷無嚴憚之士(shi),何(he)以寢奸謀(mou)?遇事無敢諍之臣,何(he)以臨大(da)(da)節?人(ren)(ren)物稀疏,精采銷(xiao)軟,隱惰惜已者多(duo),忘身(shen)殉國者少。”度宗(zong)(zong)(zong)接(jie)連委任(ren)天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)為(wei)(wei)工部侍(shi)郎兼直(zhi)學士(shi)院加(jia)顯文閣(ge)待制、湖(hu)南安(an)撫(fu)(fu)使(shi)、潭州(zhou)(zhou)知州(zhou)(zhou)、漳州(zhou)(zhou)知州(zhou)(zhou),他(ta)都極力辭卻。咸(xian)淳(chun)(chun)二年(nian)(nian)(nian),度宗(zong)(zong)(zong)改任(ren)天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)為(wei)(wei)福(fu)建(jian)安(an)撫(fu)(fu)使(shi),又力辭,不(bu)許,乃(nai)上任(ren)。任(ren)內疏陳鹽(yan)戶破家隕身(shen)之慘(can),請求(qiu)罷(ba)(ba)免鹽(yan)稅,獲準。又請罷(ba)(ba)荔枝貢。不(bu)久,召為(wei)(wei)刑部尚書,后進為(wei)(wei)顯文閣(ge)直(zhi)學士(shi)、提(ti)(ti)舉太平興國宮,御書三(san)札(zha),催促上道,天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)皆力辭。第二年(nian)(nian)(nian),進華文閣(ge)直(zhi)學士(shi)。不(bu)久致(zhi)仕(shi),加(jia)端明殿學士(shi),轉(zhuan)一官。病危臨終(zhong),猶親自(zi)起草遺表,規說君相,以天(tian)(tian)下為(wei)(wei)重(zhong)。天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)言(yan)(yan)動(dong)有(you)準繩,居(ju)官耿介,臨事是非(fei)侃侃,不(bu)可回折。他(ta)曾(ceng)自(zi)書刊號春聯(lian)“生平要識瓊崖(ya)面(mian),到此當(dang)堅(jian)鐵石心”。宋人(ren)(ren)周密說:“近世(shi)敢言(yan)(yan)之士(shi),始終(zhong)一節,明目張膽,言(yan)(yan)人(ren)(ren)所難,惟溫陵洪(hong)公(gong)一人(ren)(ren)。”咸(xian)淳(chun)(chun)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian),天(tian)(tian)錫(xi)逝(shi)世(shi)。度宗(zong)(zong)(zong)特(te)贈正議大(da)(da)夫(fu),謚文毅。
所著有《經筵講義(yi)》
《通禮輯略》
《味言發墨》
《陽巖文集》
《洪文毅奏議》等(deng),弟天驥。